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Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Brujeria

Introduction
Brujeria is a form of Mexican magik.  It has similarities and differences to curanderismo.  Men and women practice it.  The practitioners of Brujeria deal with various spirts and they have special abilities.
History   
Brujeria comes from a mixture of Mexican magik and European sorcery.  In acient Mexico there were shamans and false-doctors.  Shamans healed people and false doctors made people sick.  If someone had a disease they would seek out a shaman. If a person was wronged by someone else they would seek out a false doctor to get revenge.  Shamans and false doctors knew a lot about nature. They worked with spirits that were supportive of their endeavors.  Morality as we know it today didn't exist in Mexico.  Mordern day morality comes from Abrahamic religions.

Spanish priests brought Christianity to Mexico and tried to demonize the Mexican spirits.  It didn't work. What ended up happenning was Mexicans mixing their old religion with their new religion.  The missioners made Quetzacoatl look like Christ and Tezcatlipoca look like the devil.  Mexicans weren't scared of the devil because he was their god in disguise.  

Grimores were brought to Mexico by the Spainish.  These books of spells were incorporated into what became Brujeria.  The Spainish taught sum Mexican magik pracitioners Black Mass.  Sometimes The Lord's prayer is said backward to curses enimies.

Brujeria vs Curanderismo
Similarities: Both have the ability to heal.  They both work with saints.  They are both a mixture of Mexican and Spainish traditions.  They have a common origin.

Differences: Curanderismo is a Mexican form of shamanism.  Brujeria is a type of Mexican magik pure and simple.  It is used to bless and curse.  The word brujeria is a Spanish word 4 witchcraft.

European Christians called various religions and forms of magik that wasn't Christian witchcraft.  A lot times the word witchcraft is used to mean magik in general.  
Brujero and Brujera
Brujero: Male practioners of Brujeria.
Brujera: Female practioners of Brujeria.

I think brujeras are stronger than brujeros, because women are more magikal.  I heard women are most powerful during their period.  

Spirits of Brujeria
Various Spirits are utlized by brujeras and brujeros.  Santa Muerte is a popular spirit among pracitioners, becasuse she can do anything.  She is Our Lady of Holy Death. She has many forms and is uber powerful!!!!

El Coyote is a spirit sum pracitioners work with.  Some of them work with saints. There is a saint called San Simon.  He is based on a Mayan god named Maximon. Catholic priests tried to make Maxion look evil, but it backfired.  Mayans love Maximon (San Simon).  Maximon is a underworld deity.  He has nothing to do with evil.  The underworld isn't evil in Mayan mythology.  There are many other spirits, but this will suffice.  
Special Abilites
People into Brujeria are great @ divination.  The bible is used to divine.  It is called bibliomancy.  Islamic people that divine use the Quran instead.  Some brujeras and brujeros divine with a cigar.

They are able to communicate with spirits of the deceased, as well as saints and deities.  They are able to {manifest certain outcomes and/or change the odds of something happening}(magik).  
Concludsion
Brujeria is a great form of magik!!!!!  It comes from Mexican and European magical systems.  It is like Curanderismo, but quite different.  Men and women practice it.   It has many spirits that help and hinder.  

References
http://www.brujonegrobrujeria.com/page/page/716732.htm
http://www.lunalunamagazine.com/dark/mexican-white-magic
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-bruja-or-brujo-2561875
http://www.unexplainedstuff.com/Magic-and-Sorcery/The-Practice-of-Brujeria.html
Brujeria and Curanderismo 
http://eapolanco.com/brujeria-and-self-identity-how-my-past-influenced-my-research/
https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/qvwe3x/the-young-brujas-reclaiming-the-power-of-their-ancestors

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Kumina

Synopsis
Kumina is a Jamaican religion created by Bakongo people in 1800's.  It's also a style of dancing.  There are 2 kind of spirits: sky spirits and earth spirits.  Ancestral spirits and characters in the bible are earth spirits.  Shango and Obei are sky spirits.  The creator name is Oto King Zombi. Sum people get possessed by ancestral spirits during ceremonies.  People that get possessed by ancestral spirits reincarnate.  Those that don't go to live with Oto King Zombi after they die.  Everyone has a spirit called Kuyu.  It contains the personality of the deceased.  It is similar to an etheric body.  Followers of this Kumina organize themselves into nations.  It is centered around family.  Sum of the tribes that follow this religion are Yoruba, Igbo, Mondongo, Bakango, etc.  Drummers of Kumina have their own style of drumming.  It had a big impact on Reggae and Dancehall music.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumina
https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/kumina
https://www.scribd.com/presentation/118319556/A-powerpoint-on-the-religion-Kumina
Jamaican Culture
http://caribbean.worldstogethertravel.com/Jamaica/kumina
https://jis.gov.jm/information/jamaicas-heritage-dance-music/jamaicas-heritage-dance/
http://www.jpanafrican.org/docs/vol11no7/11.7-4-Davy.pdf
Kumina Sidle Show

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Santa Muerte

Introduction
Santa Muerte is a Mexican folk saint.  She is based on an Aztec death goddess.  There are colors & symbols associated with her.  They all have different meanings.  She dressed in Catholic clothes.  She has evolved over the years.  She answers prayers quickly.
Folk Saint
Santa Muerte is the most famous Mexican folk saint.  Most people who worship her do it in their home.  Some government officials and cops think all of her devotees are criminals.  That's not true.  She'll work with anybody because she is a nice person.  Morality is determined by the individual.  There are parades 4 her in Mexico.  There is or was a big shrine 4 her in Mexico city.

Origin
Santa Muerte is based on Aztec death goddess Mictecacihuatl.  She is the queen of the underworld and rules over the afterlife.  The Aztec had a holiday that celebrated the deceased.  The Spanish had a holiday that dealt with death as well.  These 2 holidays mixed and became the Day of the Dead.  La Catrina is popular during the Day of the Dead.  She is not Santa Muerte, but the favor each other. 
 Colors
Black: Protection, hexing, uncrossing, banishing, and all purpose.
White: Purity, peace, happiness, protection, and all purpose.
Red: Love, lust, blood, marriage, etc.
Green: Legal Protection
Gold: Prosperity, job, career, bizzness, ideas, etc.
Purple: Psychic powers, good health, and divination.
Blue: Wisdom, learning, memory, exams, etc.
Rainbow: all of thee above.

You should get a Black statue of Santa Muerte and burn a colored candle that corresponds to your desire.  Instead of getting a statue of Santa Muerte of a certain color.  But you can do that 2 if you wish.  The first option makes more sense.
Symbols
Sickle: Death
Globe: She's everywhere.  Death comes 4 us all.
Owl: Great eyesight. She is a great guide 4 her followers.
Hourglass: Our lifetime
Cloak: Protection
Catholic Influence
When someone needs Santa Muerte they pray to her, give offering to her statue, and write petitions.  This the same procedure for a Catholic saint.  When the Spanish tookover Mexico they forced Catholicism on the Mexican people.  That caused them to mix there own religion with Catholicism.  Some people use rosaries when praying to Santa Muerte.  The rosary are Catholic prayer beads.  Over the years she gained the abilities of other saints.  She responds to prayers in haste, because she is so powerful!!!!!!

                             
Conclusion'
Santa Muerte is the most powerful Mexican folk saint.  She is a Catholic version of  Mictecacihuatl.  She was created out of Mexican and Spanish traditions mixing together. She has symbols and colors that have different traits.
Long live Santa Muerte!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
References
Sophia diGregoria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Muerte
http://curiouscurandera.com/acatalog/Santa_Muerte_History__Colors_and_Symbols.html
http://www.santamuerte.org/general/index.1.html
http://traceyrollin.com/setting-up-a-santa-muerte-altar/
http://www.santamuertemagick.com
https://exemplore.com/wicca-witchcraft/santa-muerte-for-witches
http://thesaintdeath.blogspot.com