Bath To Improve Your Life

By the light of 3 fresh white candles add the following to your bathwater:Sea saltFlorida water1 Fresh Parsley bundle1 Nutmeg1 Bay leaf1 Fresh Rosemary bundle1 Fresh Sage bundle1 Fresh Mint bundle3 White eggsLight a good cleansing incense. Bathe with the eggs, careful not to break them. Dry off with a clean white towel. Put on all white clothes. Place the eggs in a brown paper sack and put the outside, along with the 3 white candles. The next morning take the eggs to the crossroads and leave them along with 21 pieces of candy and 3 coconuts. Ask Exu to remove the obstacles from your life.

Pomba Gira

Pombagira is often called the Sacred Whore. She was originally thought to be a Kongo deity unique to Brazil. Some say she is the wife of Exu and shares many of his characteristics. Some say she is a seperate Orisha and a female path of Exu. She is a powerful protectress and is often called "the last chance". She will help you when you are desperate and no other Orisha will cooperate. She is very powerful and very dangerous. She always gets paid in advance and nonpayment will bring great suffering to those who cross her. She is always willing to sell you what you need for the right price positive or negative.

Musings

What you call to yourself will come, positive or negative.

Everything is connected.

Anything is possible, all you have to do is believe.

It is your beliefs, decisions and actions that make you what you are.

Critisism kills relationships, praise builds and rebuilds them.

Confident authority is the key to conscious creation.

Every problem has more than one solution.

Never give up, just change you approach.

Making Wanga Voodoo Dolls

Making Wanga Voodoo Dolls
By Kendra Leonard, eHow Editor

Wanga dolls---also known as ouanga dolls, poppets, doll babies, and obeah dolls---are closely related to voodoo (or voudun) dolls. However, with voodoo dolls an element, such as hair of nail clippings, from the target is used to create an energy between the doll and the target, wanga dolls are said to be the tangible houses of a spirit, with which the user communicates his or her desires. The wanga doll is said to summon powers of the night, and wanga doll makers are initiated into the craft through largely secret ceremonies and training.

Wanga dolls are made for specific purposes: to bring love, money, luck, success, power, attraction, sex, wisdom, protection from other spells, to hex enemies, to remove jinxes or to exorcise a person from your life forever. Each wanga doll is handmade and imbued with power by the maker. Because wanga dolls are manifestations of a spirit, they must be treated with care and handled with respect.

Practitioners consecrate, or charge, wanga dolls through many different rituals. According to Santeria priestess Madrina Angelique Samedi, the process is as follows: "Light a candle in the appropriate color. Write your intent neatly and clearly on a clean piece of paper and place under the candle. Place the Magical Fetish Wangas near the candle. Touch your magical Fetish and speak to Spirit. Tell the Divine your wishes, desires and needs. Ask Spirit to bring these needs, wishes and desires into reality. Treat your Voodoo Fetish Wangas with respect and the Voodoo Spirits will answer your wishes!"

After you have obtained a wanga doll from a practitioner, you must make friends with it. You should talk to your wanga doll several times every day; tell it your troubles or desires. Hold the doll gently while you talk to it, and stroke its hair and clothes. You can also add some of your own essence to the doll, such as hair, sweat, blood, urine or something personally meaningful to you, such as a bead or charm. Many wanga doll users also write their desires on a small piece of paper and insert it into the doll's body, carefully repairing the hole made in doing so. Some people wear their wanga dolls underneath their clothes, keeping them close at all times.

Orisha Ritual Candles

New At Oshuns Botanica. Handpainted red/black Elegba Ritual Candles.

Palo Mayombe

Palo Mayombe. Often called the dark side of Santeria, nothing could be further from the truth. Palo is a nature based system that utilizes the forces of nature, such as sticks, stones, earth, bone and many other items drawn from nature. Palo work is centered around the Prendas, also called Nganga's, which are consecrated ritual cauldrons filled with earth, sticks, bones, herbs, and other sacred objects. The Prenda is home to the spirits of the Dead, as well as the powerful Nikisi, which are the deities of Palo. A Prenda should only be used by a fully initiated Palero or Palera because in the wrong hands they can be extremely dangerous. No Palero can perform any work without the help of the spirits of the dead at some point in his practice. These spirits are aquired in numerous ways. Sometimes they are passed to him through his own godparents. Other times they are spirits drawn to him by some natural affinity or affection. These spirits may make themselves known through dreams or through mediums at seances performed by the Palero and his fellow initiates. Most Paleros also maintain an ancestor altar where many spirits maybe aquired through rituals and offerings. This article appeared in Atlanta Rising Magazine.

Lucero is the owner of roads, doors and knows where to find things. He is usually seen as a young man, mischievous yet wise. He favors rum, cigars, candy, fish and possums. His colors are red, black and white. He is known for being unpredictable at times but is truly fierce in his guardianship of the Munanso. He can be a deadly force when called upon for help in tight situations. Lucero is fed first during Ebo's so that he will allow things to proceed smoothly. His offerings should be taken to the woods or the crossroad.

Centella Ndoki is my personal Nkisi. She is very protective of her children and one of the most dangerous of the Nkisi. She rules the Wind, Lightning, the Market Place, the Cemetery, the Dead, Witchcraft and creatures of the night. Most work with her will be done in the cemetery. She favors sangria, red wine, plums, eggplants and the colors of purple, red and black.

Mama Chola is a beautiful and powerful witch who rules the river, beauty, money and love. She is sensuality, sexuality and gracefulness. Mama Chola is the power of two things coming together. All of her offerings should be taken to a river. She is not very forgiving of slights and when her feelings get hurt, she is unappeasable. But when she's happy, she can and will give her children many great blessings. Mirrors, peacock feathers, honey, eggs, white wine and mimosa are some of her favorite things and she favors the colors of amber, yellow and orange.

Zarabanda is the ruler of war, iron, conflicts, knives and protection. He is temperamental, fierce, powerful and protective, yet he can be very giving at times. All of his offerings should be taken to the railroad tracks. Zarabanda favors plantains, rum, cigars, machetes and the colors of green, black and coral. The ability to cause car wrecks, arguments and fights are among his many talents. He is a very dangerous Nkisi when crossed and unforgiving of his enemies.

An old man with white hair and white beard. Tiembla Tierra rules mountains, mystics and fathers. A wise and kind Nkisi, he can also be a fierce warrior. He rules purity, clear thinking and staying calm in extreme conditions. He favors all things white. Coconuts, unsalted rice, cocoa butter, parrot feathers, cool clear water and a wooden staff are among his favorite things. His offerings should be taken to a mountain. He represents coolness of thought, wisdom and clarity. Snails, white elephants and rainbows are associated with him also.

Tata Fumbi is one of the most feared and respected of the Nkisi. He is a great magician and healer. He has also been known to bestow wealth on those who treat others with kindness and respect. His colors are blue and white striped beads with yellow, sometimes coral. He favors white wine, cigars, beans and rice. He is very concerned with cleanliness and those who approach him must be physically and spiritually cleansed beforehand. A broom, white candles and crutches are favored items next to his prenda. His offerings should be taken to a field.

Siete Rayos is known as the seven lightning bolts. He rules fire, sex, lightning and justice. He is a daring fighter and a nasty rival but can also be charming and crafty with his very male sexuality. All of his offerings should be taken to the woods. Justice from Siete Rayos is swift and sudden. He favors bananas, red wine, and the colors of red and white. The skull and horns of a large ram is a favored item in his prenda.

Madre Agua rules the sea and all the riches that dwell within. She is loving and protective of her children. She can bring great wealth and blessings to those she favors. Madre Agua love sea shells, fans and all things associated with the sea. All of her offerings should be taken to the ocean or a lake when the ocean can't be reached. Madre Agua is a very forgiving Nkisi but can be dangerous when her children have been harmed by witchcraft. She favors the colors of blue, coral and crystal.

Copyright Madrina Angelique Samedi:2001

Santeria

Santeria is the worship of the Orisha, or "head guardian" and combines the beliefs of the Yoruba and Bantu people in Southern Nigeria, Senegal and Guinea Coast with elements of Roman Catholicism. The two faiths became syncretized. Brazilians practice it under such names as Candomble, Umbanda, and Quimbanda. It is believed among most scholars that New Orleans Style Voodoo and the current American Style Palo Mayombe also evolved from this. And while there are many similarities, each system has it's own unique rules, Deities and way of doing things.

Elegba is the Divine Messenger. Elegba rules all doors and roads. He is the Orisha of communication. He also rules luck and fortune. He removes all obstacles in your path.

Oshun is the Orisha of the River. She rules love, eroticism, wealth, fertility, happiness, fashion, cosmetology, pleasure and the arts that bring these.

Chango is the Orisha of Justice, court cases and male sexuality. He rules thunder, drums and warriors.

Yemaya is the Orisha of the sea and motherhood. She is nurturing, healing and creates peace and calm in a person's life. She rules all things connected with the sea, motherhood and the care and raising of children.

Ogun is the Orisha of Iron, a warrior, a hunter and a blacksmith. He rules industry, war, the military, technology, automobiles, railroads and surgery.

Oya is the Orisha of the Wind and of the Marketplace. She rules those who travel through the air and those who sell merchandise in the marketplace. She rules the entrance to the cemetery and the Dead.

Babaluaye is the Orisha of infectious disease and the patron of the poor, the sick and crippled. He is said to give wealth to those he favors. He is also a protector of those down on their luck.

Ochosi works with Elegba and Ogun to track down your goals and find them for you. He teaches you the importance of justice, fairness and consistency.

The Ibeji are the Divine Twins who work to bring about healing and wealth.

Combine the power of the Orisha for love, luck, health, wealth, healing and prosperity.

Olokun is known as the Lord of the Deep. He is very wealthy and willing to share wealth with those who worship him.

Obatala is the Orisha of white light and fatherhood. He is the highest and most spiritual Orisha. He rules mountains, hills and religious mystics. He is a calm, peaceful and patient Orisha.

Orunmila rules wisdom and divination.

Copyright Madrina Angelique Samedi:2003