2026 Year of the Sword and the Void, Introducing the Solomon Seal Oracle

Greetings, After a long pause in writing here I pop in to point towards my Instagram YouTube but especially Patreon activity you can still find me at sancista7crossroads@gmail.com and Facebook but also MotherBreeann@gmail.com 

I do hope to update things more frequently as they can be released. For those not familiar of Ifa divination and other customs around New Years they are forecast using a consecrated ceremonial oracle and interpreted in the african diaspora each year by a central organization for success and to avoid problems. Cool heads are needed as a hot Ogun Mars ruled year, especially for women viewed within the following frameworks emphasis regarding Ogun as a technology and, practical spiritual or magic and physical tools of the embodied energy of 2026 and not focused on the entities themself as Ogou=sorcery. I dont want the reader to get side tracked by what they think they know about Vodou or magic regarding the vision I got from Nana Buruku. 

 The following 2026 forecast integrates the Ifa readings from Cuba (Ogunda Otrupon) and Miami (Ogunda Oshe) produced Jan 1 with the Solomon Seal Oracle at Voodoo Priest Botanica (Mars with Jupiter geomantics) which was released beforehand Dec 31. Our approach is not religious nor atheism, neopagan nor "New Age"; it is a recovered Magickal framework utilizing Caribbean sorcery, Kabbalah, and traditional Necromancy. We are the Invisible Church and reclaimed AA lodge; silver or lunar Dark Brotherhood, from various initiatic and bloodline lineages vantage point. The dominant energy for 2026 is Ogun — Ogun has the blade, the forge, and is the path-clearer. This year demands discipline and the "Dark Feminine" power of Nana Buruku to navigate global instability, financial shifts, and health risks (specifically blood and reproductive issues). While Ifa focuses only on San Lazaro and Oshun or Yemaya after Ogun for this year's broadcast, our technology and order looks deeper into the energetic patterns of the currents and its orders involvement in ancestral currents. 

  The Key Signs (Odu) Ogunda Otrupon (Cuba):The wooden knife in the forge. Focus on San Lazaro known as Babaluaye king of the earth (health/wealth) but my revelation is one of Nana Buruku (the cosmic grandmother/more ancient LAWS of Maat). I have Vodou, Dahomey heritage and received these Vodoun Orisha in ceremony: Nana, Babaluaye as my head Orisa and others and have intimate knowledge of these energies. I still respect these traditions and how they helped my health, but function as a master spiritualist as light is based on expanse or contraction. Ogunda Oshe (Miami): The power of Oshun, the power of Oya’s scythe. Themes of life, death, and transformation. Both readings focus on the tools used with the Orisha such as St Lazarus broom or why we use the mask of Oya. I chose a picture of some of Nana's tools instead of depicting an entity for this blog entry. Similarities and differences: Ogun/Mars. Strength, protection, and the "applied force" necessary for the year and reflected in the New Aeon as the Cuban odu states a knife is not needed to eat an egg. The difference between the Cuban and Miami odu is Ogun is innocent in one which false claims are very rare of sexual assault, and in the other he is guilty both caution on the same theme. See full entries 2026 Solomon Seal Oracle on Voodoo Priest Botanica Patreon Health: Caution regarding blood, STDs, and reproductive health. Divination is strongly suggested before any surgery and watch for car accidents. Stability: High global financial and security volatility. Discernment and discipline is mandatory also spiritually. Avoid Conflicts: wars will be hard fought if won due to instability; strength and protection is needed against enemies, bloodshed and hypocrisy.

    Possession/Spiritualism: Ofun Nalgbe supporting odun is when a spirit first went into a body incarnated or as a spiritual pot or as a medium, spirit made flesh. This is a Vodou assoiation. Magic or thoughts made material/real. It is also the Chinese year of the fire horse and the energy can be translated to Iching divination. The chwal in creole or medium cheval is protected by Ogun seen as St George; Ogun on his stallion. Ofun Ogbe or Nalgbe and Ogunda-She both talk about the myth of Pandora and mediumship in a sense. Ifa cautions women or personality types not to be curious as curiosity skinned the cat or goat. When goat got impulsive and headstrong and caught on the fence and got made into a drum in the odun Obara Meji they pay with their skin or life are at risk of violence. These past years markings are among some of my personal odun as well as the astrology/geomancy/tarot! I predict this years first solar eclipse event using the same energy point in astrology which is a 1/360 or 410 chance odds providing evidentiary proof. However as a spiritualist I have pulled witnessed results with odds 1000 times more the odds before. This is not a brag but proof of function/life. I wrote about Pandora's box on my Ig last year for a reason and its within one of this years odun. Odu or odun are like the womb or cauldron and rune cup of the chance dice. Master Divination and Spiritualist. The triangle of art is a tool of magicians along with black mirror to manifest such conditions as the triangle of saturn or skeleton gives spirit visible form for example. The magicians hat is the black hole from which comes a rabbit or tricks. Associated is mind over matter/ over the body or material/ lower nature, therefore the magicians ability of material manifestation/s, and spiritualism, spirit manifestation. And a spirits or consciousness has ability to dominate the physical is partly how Ofun and Obatala are related to Ori or the spirit of Ela, psychic gift. 

  Dark Feminine “voodoo” power and the Deads: Dantor: black cat, the abyss void energy of dark matter is matriarchal, black mater, but I cannot fully explain how that is linked to Oyekun Oya mystery here with death or Vudu, but its like a womb-tomb axis. Oyekun is darkness, as the dundun black dudu related to Oshun opposite of Ofun white fog or mist, the foundational ¾ colors or orientations seen also on the congo cosmogram or medicine wheel. And in each energy there is its opposite yingyang or solutions and issues. Others see the energy of the exact signature as originating from Aida Wedo queenly fire but remember Freda gives a Congo salute! Aida is the reflection upon creation, the rainbow/snake seen in the void or the refraction of lucifer/light. In Hindu depictions Kali has a pretty golden face as well as her warrior black kala manifestation hearkening to Gnostic John Lash's Kaliki warriors in the Yuga age cycle.

 In terms of concepts and not entities again, Brigette is popularly syncretised to Oya but thats not close understanding as some have Ogun Yansa in practice this is not about these spirits perse as a being, but the energy stream or idea/what they functionally represent. Ogun can be police, witchcraft or an engine/tools or more. Entities do not fit squarely on the planets dynamically and hence entities are also poor at times to relay magickal concepts. Some may put Ogun and Brigette the Judge for the year energy or result, and certainly Baron Samedi makes an appearance, but I am talking about the energy of Gran Erzulie, Nana Buruku seen in the depiction of St Anne, the elder but not often spoken of. In the cemetary Centella Ndoki or Virgen of Carmel. What I describe again is not working with actual saints or Lwa perse and people do not understand syncretism why were so many different images used for the same energy or spirit or why those listed here or dates, planets, angels are not "substitutes" for each other as actual correspondences are used. That is what wil be revealed to interested magicians for 2026 magick class. I am teaching the primary translation to tarot, Kabala and playing cards classes and spellwork based on the exact geomancy and planetary influences revealed by Minister Richmond and the Solomon Seal Oracle to do magic this year. It does not involve any of the spirits mentioned in this article howvever they are mentioned as a teaching tool and are not required to function and as I dont suggested people grasp at or start with random entities.

 I spoke to another Vodousant who had placed Ogun and Dantor for the year about my (knowing)konesans and as Ogou Fegai is a magician and his head Lwa, I said "to be a point of light in the void and not be consumed by it" to describe the dark venusian temple path and the years manifestions. He mentioned Ogun can enter the darkness from his hotness(pathway to petro) without dissolution but spoke similarly of(large dark technology) arriving as a shadow on Ogun for 2026 adding also Dantor as his results for dark hot feminine energy. A Quimbanda temple further used the oracle to determine similar and clarified results the Pomba Gira acting is the putrified Venus aspect of Saturn surrounding the energies and temple defense. This can be very negative and severe, but knowing this can be used in favor instead. 

 More beings to compare cpncepts: Demeter/Persephone Queen of hell/underworld, Lucifer especially and Venus, Venus with Vulcan/Hephaesteus the underworld forge Ra hoor khuit sun body active warrior boat of Horus with Set the moon. Nana Buruku metal emblems have the sun and moon and 7 snakes/vodoun energy and polarities. Sekhet spirit of the Nile and reeds to Osirus and the Underworld. Reeds are magickal papyri and bamboo is well used in the Caribbean and again nodding to Moses power which I wrote about Moses being found at the river by the reeds on my IG recently. Nana Buruku's wooden knife is often made of bamboo in reception and she also has a broom or aja as staff of authority.

I could easily add Hecate Brimo/Artemis…. or Nepyths, Nyx or Nuit the starry night of Binah and Saturn, of severity as the bitter or darker aspect of Isis to address suffering. The temple path of Black Moses in the desert as the hermit shaman Obeahman, the witch in the swamp, survivalist maroons and Petro. The energy of the black temple comes forth this year but the correspondence used for 2026 is very specific.

 The Master Path and Key:We offer a workable system for the modern Magus to harness these planetary energies for survival and mastery. This is not about worshipping deities; it is about using spiritual technology—like the DeLaurence Obeah cloth, The Solomon Seal Oracle with planetary and other correspondences and entities—to command your reality. 

 Next Steps: For the candle colors, card and spell correspondences such as angelic and daemonic spirits, and how the dead can ride this energy will be given on, to properly work with the mars-jupiter and veus-saturn pathways and access to our 2026 Magic Classes, as well you can determine these divinations on any issue at any time and to further grasp patreon information

This is the proper Patreon and for classes it's MotherBreeann@gmail.com or sancista7crossroads@gmail.com for direct service or after you have signed up for classes let me know.

https://www.patreon.com/doktorlucifer/

 contact Motherbreeann@gmail.com for advice or questions after signup: With Strength,Mother BreeAnn

Products for Sale!

I will update my facebook, blog and store as stock is available.
I did my first market, a witches market the end of April 2018. I have a women's charity function to vend and do readings end of May as well as another market and in June, so I will be crafting alot of products. I have oils, powders, baths and assorted items. If you are looking for anything message me and I can make it! Its no problem because the excess I will sell at my store or market days.
All my products are 100% traditional, 90-100% natural except where some perfume like florida water etc is used in bath and prices kept low as possible as I am active currently in Canada and the more exotic supplies are expensive here than USA but the handcrafted items are very reasonable. You must pay shipping but I can work a deal if several items are ordered. I can also wholesale or do bulk orders.

Here is what I have currently left in stock:

Love or money rice $10 jar kit, bag $8: Use as floor sweep, sprinkle on altars, use in candle jar or around candle lights

Love bath salt $7: combination of Himalayan and Epsom salt, all natural herbs and essential oils

Love Sweetening Domination Calming jar $10: Can be used to make a person or relationship kinder and sweeter but also to calm a person such as a boss or friend.

Shut up! Against gossip tapa boca jar $15: stops wagging tongues, lies and gossip between neighbors, frenemies, coworkers etc

Assorted jar"spells" $15

Put personal concerns or items, commands within and sake and visualize what you want, place candle on top for odd number of days or until manifestation.

Clarity to see a situation clearer

To increase love or passion

for finances, money, prosperity

Sour jar against enemies for justice or against abuse or harrassment only, get someone fired or seperation work but must consult first: consultation fee $20

Fixed Honey jar $20 larger jar $30

Lwa food $5: used as offering at their place in nature and on altars

13 bitter herb mix $10 or $5 sample: use for bath tea or poured neck down and brew for floor wash for uncrossing, remove negative energy and attachments. Contains rompe zaraguay, and other traditional herbs.

Road opening, Legba powder $8: for finance, communication and new opportunity anything your heart desires to increase possibility: Contains tradition Abre Camino herb to blow to the 4 winds, at the crossroad or sprinkle behind front door of home or business, can also dress candles.

Exorcism powder $8: Contains herbs and powder that packs a punch, blow to the 4 corners of a place or put in corners of a room, carry in a mojo, dress a candle etc. Contains pine, rompe zaraguay, pirul and other herbs & minerals to discourage entities.

Oils

Against Evil eye oil $10: anoint evil eye amulets, jewelry etc, use on yourself against negative looks and energy people send day to day, or among coworkers etc

Reversal oil $7: use on your reversal candles, jars or work to end situations in your life or send negative energy back where it came from

Reversal jar kit $25 with candle

Court case, justice, stop evil oil $10

Love or Quick money oil $10 10ml

Ghede money lamp oil $30: concentrated, add to other oil for lamps can be used on candles, remember to give your offering. Only 2 left

Dantor lamp oil $30: concentrated, dilute yourself, also can be used on candles, remember to give your offering. Only 2 left & limited offer. Contains Zo Devan.

Beli Belcan lamp oil $70: court cases, justice, protection. Comes with saint amulet and thunderstone, has been charged on divisional altar for a lengthy amount of time.

Legba Candle, dressed $15

I can dress other candles to your needs or Lwa for offering $25

Candle light service $20

Conventional Candles:

Aromatic longer lasting premade novena $15 Come to me or Chupparosa to attract anything you want in life or for love

Yemaya novena $15

8oz Rose Spiritual water: $15

7.5 oz Florida water: $12

MISC

Spiritual kit: square reckitts blue, 3 camphor, cascarilla $6, order more, bigger discount

blockbuster powder: $10 & $15 sizes against obstacles

botswana agate bracelet $12 general protection and against dark spirits

Ancestral, spirit court necklace to the dead $121 gem chips

Liquid Baths & Floorwash $20 each

Haitian Blue floorwash & bath 

Haitian hounfor and home wash

The following are concentrated and added to water:

Ancestor, psychic, calm White bath

Clarity bath

Get clients, love and money

Lwa bath:

Metrisili $70 as she demands if you want bath charged/empowered add +$30 each bath

Dantor $60

La Siren, La Diosa del Mar $50

Anaisa $50

And others availiable please message

             S7X

Lineages of Sanse

There are many lineages of Vodou such as "Haitian": Asogwe lineage
and other lineages in Haiti and the Dominican Republic such as 21 Divisiones and family groups.
There is also New Orleans or Louisiana Voodoo and West African Vodoun from which the lineages in the new world originate and arrived from via the slavery diaspora.

Little known is Sanse a Vodou lineage through Puerto Rico which is more spiritualist and deals more with the dead in its approach. Within the other listed traditions there are also differences in how things are performed and this is not because there is no unity of thought rather that the way that things are done have some similarity and an underlying reason for choices that went into the way these lineages were perserved. For example I have learned from some people in "Dominican" Vodou 21 divisiones that their practice is baptismal and more saint based in their approach than others in the same umbrella tradition. Those familiar with these traditions know some things never change and others can be done correctly in different ways that make sense. Most of these traditions are family based, while others are a mixture of family and temple in organization. There are Lwa that are more concerned with individuals and others with community and family groups so that there are going to be differences in spirits served from one region or locale to another, which also influences focus and way the group operates.

When it comes to Sanse we also see ourself as organized by lineages of spirit groups. Our house has pantheon 7 chiefs, whereas others have 21 divisions of families of Lwa or chiefs that oversee a group of Loases. Within the 7 chief lineage the 7 chiefs served can again vary from one house to the next for example.

Ours is Candelo, Tindjo Alawe, Ghede Limbo, Metresili, Ogun Balendjo, Beli Belcan and Legba.
They all have spirits under them. Wheras other houses may have different Ghede jefe chief or Lwa Anaisa or Marta the Dominator instead of Metresili to head the female spirits in general. Gran Solier is generally viewed as head of them all the chief of chiefs.

The candidate entering Sanse would receive these 7 by lineage and also any Lwa insistent within their spiritual frame. Other Lwa can be received at a future date. Some choose to only baptise if they do not intend to or serve as a horse for the spirits to come in preliminary ceremonies to connect them with their own court of spirits. This is partly where the idea of the 7 african powers came from, mistakenly taken to mean the Orishas
example from Sancista Brujo Luis

21 jefe:

Sanse includes the spiritualist tradition of Espiritismo, some are cruzado with african elements and some indigenous elements, whereas others are more classic, minimalistic or european spiritist in their tradition. Usually within Sanse there is the coronation of the or crowning of the dead. Some such as our house and the influence and houses of Ocha/Santeria it is a joining of the consciousness with a main spirit guide with a baptism ceremony, somewhat like the Lwa when Vodou spirit points are received after a lave tet headwashing. Others see it as recognizing your spiritual frame and having a spiritual party.

As described many houses of family Vodou and lineages are baptismal in their entrance rites only. And that also lends to the perceptions about Sanse being a family baptismal tradition, with some minimalist in their spiritualism. This can lead to misunderstandings about others practices and more ritualistic traditions. Where mixes of people came together, the type of influences recieved in the mix varied a bit, as some retained a more Vodou current from the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) in working with and serving the Lwa... whereas other focus these spirits as soley representatives, the dead emissaroes or messanger dead of the Loases and Orishas. We certainly work the Lwa but recognize the influence of messangers and primarily are spiritualist in our group in dealing alot with the dead and due to our shared congo influences.

Weather witch: the rain maker

This blogpost is to chronicle work done during August 2017 and the ability to manipulate the weather. I put 5 river rocks that were taken with offering to put in this cherry tree that produced alot this summer. This is part of a Taino Caribbean Indio way to make rain. We are having one of the most dry and most wildfires here in the PNW in history. The smoke and air quality is very bad in some areas.  I sang to my Lwa Legba, Metrisili, Cachita Tumbo, Papa Sobo y Bade and Tindjo Alawe while harvesting peas for hours in the evening and my main 2 spirit guides on Sunday. I sang a song my spirits told me for rain. Thank you to my brothers and sister and native tribes doing drumming in western Canada, those who have prayed & assisted. I cannot take credit but I know they have helped us, and thankful to the Lwa & mercy of Bondye, I felt drops of rain when there should be none a few nights ago. There was no forecast for rain, now there is rain coming about 5 days to the day after I did ceremony, and they increased the forecast to rain all weekend for my birthday. My Lwa I am assured! Ayibobo! Cheeehooo its raining! our water was almost out I am on well and duck pond pump and rain barrels right now on this property. Did my rain dance song 24 hours ago. I am going to sing it again! And I always get headache before it rains. And its the thunder full moon just put my pot out to catch some!   look at the change in temperature too : Vancouver Island 29-32 degree Celsius down to 16! Wed Clear Clear 28°C  Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 77% Wind: 6 km/h Thu Sunny 29° Fri Mostly Sunny 27° Sat Scattered Showers 21° Sun Showers 16° Mon Cloudy 17° Tue Partly Cloudy 19° Wed Showers 19° Guess I owe Cachita Tumbo some yellow flowers and cigar to the river, My mother here is shocked haha, but she is a believer in curandero's too.I am not sure if this is a new inherited or latent now developed minor ability, I have only noted my connection to wind before. Perhaps due to my court or my Leo sun and Jupiterian Sag moon energies. When I was in Florida and walked to the botanica it was blistering summer: hot and clear. I was with my younger godbrother and began to sing for rain. He was in disbelief, until there were blessed welcoming cool rain drops...until we made it to be picked up by our godfather and godmother. Recently I have had to walk to work in the mountainous western area of the USA and it rains late winter and spring. I asked my spirits several times to hold off the rain until I could make it to work, and miraculously the weather obliged each time, with a few sprinkles only the one time! As to the relation between the offices of chief and rain-maker in South Africa a well-informed writer observes: “In very old days the chief was the great Rain-maker of the tribe. Some chiefs allowed no one else to compete with them, lest a successful Rain-maker should be chosen as chief. There was also another reason: the Rain-maker was sure to become a rich man if he gained a great reputation, and it would manifestly never do for the chief to allow any one to be too rich. The Rain-maker exerts tremendous control over the people, and so it would be most important to keep this function connected with royalty. Tradition always places the power of making rain as the fundamental glory of ancient chiefs and heroes, and it seems probable that it may have been the origin of chieftainship.....

The foregoing evidence renders it probable that in Africa the king has often been developed out of the public magician, and especially out of the rain-maker. The unbounded fear which the magician inspires and the wealth which he amasses in the exercise of his profession may both be supposed to have contributed to his promotion. But if the career of a magician and especially of a rain-maker offers great rewards to the successful practitioner of the art, it is beset with many pitfalls into which the unskillful or unlucky artist may fall. The position of the public sorcerer is indeed a very precarious one; for where the people firmly believe that he has it in his power to make the rain to fall, the sun to shine, and the fruits of the earth to grow, they naturally impute drought and dearth to his culpable negligence or willful obstinacy, and they punish him accordingly. Hence in Africa the chief who fails to procure rain is often exiled or killed. Thus, in some parts of West Africa, when prayers and offerings presented to the king have failed to procure rain, his subjects bind him with ropes and take him by force to the grave of his forefathers that he may obtain from them the needed rain. The Banjars in West Africa ascribe to their king the power of causing rain or fine weather. So long as the weather is fine they load him with presents of grain and cattle. But if long drought or rain threatens to spoil the crops, they insult and beat him till the weather changes. When the harvest fails or the surf on the coast is too heavy to allow of fishing, the people of Loango accuse their king of a “bad heart” and depose him. Sir James George Frazer (1854–1941).  The Golden Bough.  1922. page 86 http://www.bartleby.com/196/pages/page86.html The power of working with natural forces hits at the very core of harnessing nature. "Making it rain" has its connotations with sexual fluids, cash, fertility and abundance. Rain and water is part of the balance and requirement of life along with the masculine force of the sun and fire, without the combination we could not have rainbows or alchemy.... S7X

Getting started in Vodou & altars: non-initiates & beginner advice

Get a reading to discover some of your Lwa

The very first and respectful thing to do, if you are interested in the religion of Vodou is to get a reading from an initiated priest to look into your spirits, the Lwa of the religion.

 It should be a reading from a priest in the branch that you are interested in, or possibly want to be initiated in yourself eventually. This is because different houses and branches have different spirits, and these will step forwards when you are read. They may also share some in common. Depending on your bloodline some of these spirits may have been there since birth. In family Vodou they pass down the same handful of Lwa. You must look at obtaining this guidance as joining another family or through a different group. Some say at least our head spirit was there since birth. I do not personally know if this is true. If we do not have these spirits through bloodline, they can call us, but again we are joining another family, being adopted in. This is why if you go to different priests in different families or branches your reading will not be exactly the same. There is no prohibition to any race or sexual orientation from entering Vodou.

Tarot readings are popular, but many devices may be used, and such as personal revelation or sign given to the priest by the Lwa for you.

If you get a reading from a Haitian Mambo, and then from a Sancista or Papa Boko, the way in which the spirits come across or step forwards for you can differ due to lineage. If you stop your guidance or relationship under the priest, then your spiritual connections may weaken, unless you become a full priest yourself. Because the connection may be broken by family. This is not DIY do it yourself, mix and match practices.

It is widely held that your met tet, main Lwa or Orisha cannot be known with certainty until you initiate. In 21 divisions, one Papa Boko states there is a reading qi/ki Lwa or star reading. But we do not determine head spirit in Sanse or Haitian Vodou, asson lineage before the ritual date. We may suspect who this is, but it can also change.

The Vodou are not a personality type. Just because you have La Sirene in one tradition does not mean you have Yemaya in another. They are not just archetypes or forces, they are beings. They are not like pat descritpions of greek gods like the god of war or goddess of love. Often times they are a whole group type of family of spirits. One spirit can have different paths or ways they are served that you may have one and not another type of Legba. But in our tradition they would be under the chief Papa Legba.

The Lwa belong to the religion and cannot be separated from their people and religion by magical approach alone. The African spirits do not belong in newage, Wicca or ceremonial magic. The same argument can be made with other indigenous traditions, and fake native American "shamans". Vodou is a living surviving tradition which does not need one person to make changes. And should be respected as such for the sacrifices made. It does not need reconstruction. Its spirits have not gone cold, or as inactive. They are very able to enact change on earth, and as elevated as some are, are not lofty and removed.

Vodou is a religion and not a system of folk magic and curses. Many people do not know what it even is but I am sure only think that they do. Vodou does not have a pantheon you can pick and choose from at will. You either have a Lwa or you don't, especially in the beginning. When you work with other spirits you do not have, it can create problems by making your other connections weaker and problems in your life. You may have problems with bad spirits due to imposters and evil dead masquerading as these spirits. Other spirits who are good can also use the image of Lwa such as guides and ancestors.

Once you have discovered some of your Lwa, you can get direction with what they may require, and have ongoing strengthening of relationship. Initiating is not the beginning or ending of practice, but guidance is absolutely key. You cannot learn from books or the internet. There is alot of bad information out there written by outsiders. the spirits themself have indicated how they want the tradition, and it is not a solitary personal path via psychism, it is a community religion. Any information from alternative sources should be checked with a reputable priest. A relationship with a priest will help prevent alot of problems and also be a resource to help with ones, instead of problems or desperation being your first introduction. You have already shown respect, and respect to the religion and spirits. Vodou is an oral tradition, that practitioners have dedicated their life to.

It needs to be understood that this is a lifestyle, that you need to understand certain cosmological concepts, and become acculturated to the people and culture you wish to approach.It cannot be what you want it to be. This is where entitlement and appropriation come in, a form of bigotry and racism. So be polite and attempt to learn the way things are. Ask about information from several priests to get a better understanding.

Personally I think that Papa Legba can be approached respectfully by all. However do not confuse that with practicing the religion. It is very common to have a visit from Papa Legba or the Baron in the beginning in dreams and such as they are introductory spirits to communication with other Lwa and the dead.

                                                                   
                                                  Simple offerings can be given to Baron Samedi at the graveyard gates to introduce yourself, state your full name and that you want to start a relationship. Next visit state your full name and ask for protection if you enter the gates. The ghede can be tricky to work with as they are the radical dead albeit accessible, they are not your ancestors. Cleansings can also be done on this point. His number is 9.

Papa Legba is a very patient and forgiving spirit. However if disrespected will close communication and opportunities in your life and will not be able to catch a break. Unfortunately due to AHSS and Hollywood the image of the Baron pops up leading to misunderstandings. A simple offering can be given to the crossroads or behind your front door. DO NOT put Ellegua stuff to him, they are 2 completely different spirits. Ask him to open the way to good and close the way to bad, the same as you did to the Baron after your first introduction. His number is 3 and 21. You can simply even draw a cross with cornmeal or cascarilla (less traditional) for him, and place his offerings apon it once he has been called and saluted.
We use different mixtures of natural substances and powders to actuallly draw veve than just cornmeal in the religion.

Ancestral Practice

You must start with you ancestors before you try to work with the higher spirits in the African Religions. You may set up an ancestral altar, but even this may have issues, bringing forth issues with the dead and ancestral issues, which are of benefit to get guidance on. The altar is a microcosm of your life, and a portal. Your ancestors can be displeased, and as a presence interfere and cause blocks in your life. Alot of people when they have problems in their life do not identify it with their spiritual practises. Whatever you do or do not do on your altars will have consequences or play out in your life.

Non-initiates

As a non initiate you should not offer any readings, services or teachings regarding Vodou, Lwa or the Orisha. This is disrespectful, counterfeit and is the job of the priests to provide. It is scamming and going to create problems in your, your family, and clients lives. These spirits are not found in hoodoo. Some do know better and do not care, others get taken advantage of in their ignorance. You should not make objects such as dolls etc. If you do make it clear it is an art piece only without spiritual value. They can be used or prepared by a priest if you want that to happen but consult first as the spirit may not like the figure. The priest is the bridge to the community in a community religion, not solitary. In all indigenous ways, there was a system of apprenticeship. The first step is humility and respect.

You should learn from history and ethnoography instead of buying spell books. You should learn about worldview and concepts behind why things are done. Do not copy other peoples altars and work. It can be an incorrect interpretation that you are assuming, or something personal to someone else that does not apply to you. You should start learning about spiritual hygiene, and keeping up on your spiritual baths and house cleaning spiritually. To know it is one thing, to practice and live this way is another. Vodou is a way of life. Spirit affects and is revealed in all aspects of life.

Try to go to community events near you as much as possible. 
It is true that many on the islands are not initiated. But they come from family lineages and many associate with temples for larger issues or are called to priesthood.
A person of a different country and culture lacks that connection otherwise.
Be helpful, respectful and contribute, this way you can observe, and put in service. The spirits will familiarize with you. If this is not possible then continue to work with your priest in terms of items that can be made for you and advise. By purchasing these small to large things, you can have experiences to see if its the house or religion for you.
It is a reciprocal relationship, and you will learn more than buying mostly useless books.

However there is one practical beginning book I can recommend in Haitian Vodou by Mambo Paula Wedo called: Ayibobo
You can learn how to do a basic salute and libations to the Rada Lwa.
Another I can recommend is Mama Lola, many priest recommend this experiential book.
No book will tell you how to practically practice, or has silly ideas or hoodoo and folk magic if it does. It will not supplement your connection to the spirits. You should read suggested books, and always check with your mentor or priests about the information. Most facebook groups are terrible, try to join one and take the advices only from priests not personal opinions.

There is certain way to use veve and they denote lineage, like a calling card or pass. As such you should not use a random one off a book or the internet, unless given by a priest to you. A priest can pass on certain advices, requests and working you can do that are prescribed by the spirits. Readings, also called "lessons" can confirm or deny your own dreams and spiritualism

The Lwa come in "possession" and the spirit administers to the community, its not just spells at home, this is the religion.

The Lwa expect certain things, songs, gestures etc. And the priests are trained to manage the situation. The priests know exorcism. This is real Vodou....not pins in a doll by a self ordained person and such "sorcery", candles or honey jars.
This truth may make some unhappy due to inconvenience, but there are no shortcuts or backdoors.
Work is done with and under the spirits. People will lie to you or do not know what they are doing are likely to rip you off or lead you astray and waste time, the blind leading the blind. Once you get the same answer from several priests stop asking, do not continue to ask around until you get the answer you want or like.

Zonbi

A good priest will have good character. Noone is perfect but they should have a sense of nobility in being trustworthy and be able to control themself and not have knee jerk emotional outbursts,

Vodou altar

You should not set up a table without guidance for the reason stated above. To work with the Lwa that you actually have, under an initiated priest. Be open to the spirits you are guided with and not just because you want this or that Lwa. Just because Erzulie is known for love, does not mean that many other Lwa cannot also perform this work, or want to perform this work for you. Once you have an idea of some, with guidance you can set up a prayer table. This is not the same as the priests altar who have received the spirits in ritual, or have been passed down in an unbroken family lineage.

Certain spirits go specific places, some do not like each other, certain things must always be present. 

Buying a statue is empty plaster, there is no spirit there. A priest does not need a veve or statue to have contact.
People need to start thinking spiritually and not materially.
When you become an initiate it is like an attunement internally, a foundation: pwen or a spirit point. Which joins the body and head to the spirit.

If you buy a statue or a doll it must be blessed or baptised by yourself at least. And it can be a gift or an object of meditation but do not mistake it for the Orisha nor Lwa, nor spirit guide. Do not buy all the Orisha or Lwa oils baths and candles from the botanica, they make a nice gift to the spirit but they are not traditional. Using these things all together is not Vodou. The religion or spiritual tradition of Vodou has its own traditional recipes for making baths and lamps that are passed down and not full of synthetic ingredients. If they are used they are usually added to other things, such as a fixed candle or lamps with other fresh herbs or natural oils. We do use many spiritual waters and perfumes.

Of course dolls and statues or pictures can be prepared as pwen. No pwen: no license or attunement with the spirit.
Spirits cannot be bought. Bought Pwen "Achete" are usually but not always contracts facilitated by the priest. They are the dead, earthbound and intranquil, djabs/demons/devils or Petro spirits usually for hire. They are not usually hereditary.

They must be paid, fed and worked with a certain way or your life can become a disaster.
The rada Lwa need to be fed, and given exchange, but again you either have them, they are interested or not.

Others say no altars in a house that is not really yours or is not a family house. Some altars are set up not to be moved and they are there for life. This is because in a traditional African shrine, the land and land spirits are familial, ancestral. Where you are born and buried are linked to family lineage in the root branches connected to your family lines of spirits.

With a prayer table you've created a sacred space designed to focus your faith and attention on your practice. It is intimate, singular and particular to you and it represents your understanding of your relationship between yourself, and your Lwa trhough the lineage you have approached. It is invested with a tremendous amount of your personal spiritual power, energy or ashe. Offerings and prayers can be given, but they are only vested in you, and not do work besides protection and perhaps occasional small petitions. Big work requires more engagement. and not a simple offering. Do not promise them anything you are not able to fulfill. They can be bargained with possibly.

An altar, on the other hand, has been specially prepared and inhabited by the Loases it was made for. It is also indicative of your relationships with your spirits but is reciprocal. The Vodous are actually in the altar and do more than just receive offerings, honor or veneration. It is working with them instead of only serve. Many confuse the word honor or serve with working or petition. The priest only has or can install this altar to a spirit in person.

Sancista 7 Crossroads

Charity

Charity
Charity is one of the highest principles held in Espiritismo of hope, faith and charity.
They are given prose in Allan Kardec's book of selected prayers and have interaction. They are both masonic and christian principles. They are symbolized by the heart, anchor and cross, as well as the 3 marias ( tres marias) or graces/muses as virtues.

This symbol put together, some use as a symbol of Sanse. The cross is of a man and the world tree, the earth and sun or faith. The heart is central of the sun or solar plexus and heart and light. The anchor is of hope,what keeps us grounded, and has the lunar and watery symbol. As in the tarot card the star, these are guiding principles linked to destiny. The hebrew letter to the star tarot card is translated as"hook", because man or souls are viewed as fishes. Such as in the bible the disciple and fisherman Peter/Simon became the fisher of man and the rock or foundation of the church as the first pope. The spiritual forces always seek towards man just as much as we look for guidance and light. As a seafaring people, they would navigate by the light of the sun and the north pole star. They even had an early navigational device known as the cross staff.

Charity means love of your fellow man like philanthropy, but many people think of it as donation to institutions, and charitable work,
Is there a higher tenet than love?
It is said that God is love.
Charity is also action, of charitable words, not speaking bad of others in gossip and undeservedly.
Of loving and helping each other.

Caridad de Cobre, the Lady of Charity
Many people think that Oshun, syncretized with the saint image of Lady of Charity or the yellow Caridad de Cobre is charity, but this is not so. Oshun is known for love, happiness, sensuality, riches, and luxury as well as foresight.The Saint of Charity is the patron of Cuba, and some use the blue one also or both colors, but that means something different in our lineage. The yellow one can also be used for the Lwa Cachita Tumbo but some use an Indian woman, whereas the blue can be used for La Sirene or Yemaya, but they also use the saint image La Diosa del Mar (goddess of the sea). We understand the saint is not the Mysterio Orisha or Lwa. One of the paths of Oshun is a chieftess, more of a native Caribbean woman. Cachita Tumbo is like Oshun as a river spirit, but many also mistake her for the female Lwa Anaisa Pye, whose name means little yellow or golden flower. She also has a path of a native woman.

The tale of how this saint came to be is very interesting. The men in the boat represent the three races which mixed and became Cuban: European, African and Indian or mixed ethnicity. The men were out harvesting salt, and were caught in a storm off the Caribbean island. Fearing for their lives they began to pray. Then the little statue on a board with the epitaph "Lady of Charity" washed towards them, and they brought it ashore. Thus Charity became linked with Faith, and is a deeper theme explored in the Prayer of the Shipwrecked. And also the Prayer of the lighthouse as the guiding light to both incarnated and disincarnated souls, The lighthouse is a metaphor for our centinela or main spirit guide, to guide us, and usher in other spirits.

In Chief Miguel Sague's book Canoa or "canoe" he tells of a slightly different version of lore, with more of the native or Taino history. Whether or not this is myth, of visions, or dreams in the telling, the cultural meaning comes through clearly. The statue is a replacement to safely hide the spirits of the land before colonization; of an earth and river creatrix: Atabey and Atabeira. Like the Taino Cemi spirits in stone, this statue mysteriously moves places, and reappears eventually back at the little chapel on top of a copper mine. Cobre in spanish means copper, and as many people lost their lives in the mine, she was looking out for them and guiding them with her light.

Saint Sophia or wisdom is told as their mother, Sophia is "Gods wife" as Wisdom herself the Ama or Asherah. From which we get the word philosophy, or the love of knowledge and study. Some see her as a Magdelene, rumored wife to Jesus. Gnostics hold Sophia as the creator of the world and is a saturnine principle of the number 3 and like Granne Erzulie or Santa Anna mother of Mary and used for the Lwa Anaisa Pye. Each of the Mary's also can be linked to the Lwa of the Erzulie family whose emblem is the heart; as Mary Salome, Mary Jacobe and Mary Magdelene as Ezili Dayila. Salome and Jacobe are also linked to the gypsy commision of guides through Santa Sara and the dance of the 7 veils by Salome in the bible. This also hearkens to Venusian deities whose number is 7 and of love, sexuality and nature, of temple proxies of Aphrodite and Ishtar. The metal of Venus is copper, and she holds the lights of the 7 planets.....as well as the sun/son in the constellation Virgo the Virgin harvest Queen pictured as holding a shaft of wheat or babe.
These are saint images which preserved original peoples knowledge.

Who is Charity?

So who is charity actually?

It is a very celestial divine spirit or power, very close to God.
This principle or force is personified, but so elevated they never come into physical mediumship.
The light of love or mercy guides spirits towards us to "hacer caridad" do charity or intervene in our human problems and suffering. These words are found often in evoking guides and the dead of a spirit court " to come to the earth and do charity". For example a song to a congo translates as "congo, little congo, congo of truth, I call you to the earth to make charity".

Also to the Lwa "gracias misercordia" means thank you for the mercy. Because they show us help and a kindness, we need to have gratitude, and to give charity to receive the blessings of the spirits.

Many higher spirits such as saints, like you to give to a charity in gratitude as an offering of thanks. For example if St Jude helped you, a donation to St Jude's Children's hospital is common. Also in first world nations, we are somewhat removed from the conditions in the very countries and areas that our traditions may come from that we enter such as Haiti, Cuba and Africa and their people.
If we take or receive than we must give back. We are one, one love.

Charity in Espiritismo
Clarity is synonymous with Light in this tradition, the ability to see truth and clairvoyance. When we think of light we think of the color white or yellow. Light "helps" spirits to see or "gives" lights the way. One misa canto or song lyrics are as translated "a great clarity.... the cloak of Mama Charity.....you light" to guide the dead towards us,
and then goes into singing of the dancing of Cachita, dance dance Cachita la Caridad.

In the name of charity, most centros of Espiritsmo try to have public misa once a month. By charity it is not actually "free" as attendees are expected to bring needed materials such as food, flowers, novena candles, cigar, rum, a small donation if possible to do the work. The energy, work, and time expended by the mediums are donated, along with any additional materials. Private misa are of charge.

Some budding espiritist said, " I don't get anything out of it" by doing the monthly charity. HA! delayed gratification. Get it right, its not about spells and commanding the dead to do your bidding.You cannot do Espiritismo without Charity. True, alot of energy is expended and it is not appreciated by other people at times the effort required. It may take several days to recover, even by the participants at times.

We are doing a service to the community. As priests we are to serve, not always be self serving. On the other hand some people do not want to exchange and only take. This upsets the order and balance of things, it is not good to put oneself at a debt. Euro mediums are more mentalists in modern times it seems, and say it is not to charge for their gifts, because they are God given and do not want to misuse it. And when money is involved this is a possibility.
This is true of being God given, however we use more materials in our folk spiritism. Physical mediumship is very draining, especially in the beginning, or you have not been brought up this way to exercise and expand the energy body over time.

What people do not purchase, they often take for granted, or in increase not listen. However our spirits will tell us when to do charity as far as spiritual work, or take on a couple of cases per month. Charity starts at home in the community, and also cannot be expected over the internet. In the old days, and still to this day to some extent barter is accepted, in the form of food, livestock, rum, cigars etc.

The charity given is also to the spirits, in our offerings and in our elevation work of light and progress in our sessions. Also to the elevation work and crossing over or rescue mediumship of earthbound or purgatorial spirits. Noted is the concept of water in African traditions, of the ocean of the dead, the congo kalunga. The cemetary is known as the small sea or little kalunga.

We venerate and give offerings to our Lwa, and is known as "sevis" Lwa, Ginen or serving the Lwa aka Voodoo. Many people do not know what Vodou is and think they are spirits to do our bidding or spells. Remember we are their horses, they "own" our heads as the master or "met tet" and guardian angel. We have access but we do not own them. We serve. And as priests we are the conduits of these higher forces.

Charity also can be done on our terms. "Beggars cannot be choosers" is an old saying. Rules are also still rules, and are there for safety. If we turn someone away from misa, especially for repeatedly not following requirements, or due to the safety needed, that is the head medium and godparents perogative and needs to be respected. We are the ones who have the responsibility and wisdom.
Spirits also have to get in line, and play by our rules, or we run the risk of spiritual problems.
Some need tough love. But we always attempt to help and educate them first.
                                                     

                                                   Sancista Siete Encruzhiladas

By a side note, many stores such as grocery chains (in the USA) allow you to link a charity to your store loyalty card so check their websites. Also if you shop through Amazon smile link in your same account it will donate to your linked charity. Just by shopping I donated around $400 last year this way alone. It would have been more but I sometimes shop through ebates to save money when applicable online. 
Please do this it takes little effort at no cost to you.