The Sanse Tradition! The Vudú that We Do

The Sanse Tradition!

The Vudú that We Do

 

The responsible and well trained Sancista or Presidente de Mesa, with his Mediamnidad de Mano derecha and the trained aprendiz "ahijados" that make up his Sociedad or Centro are there in order to help those in their Spiritual needs.  May it be lifting a causa, removing a curse, a prayer session, cleansing, or a spiritual consultation.

The first step in Sance as is with Espiritimo is an Investigacion de Cuadro and a Misa de Ratificación, "an Alineacion de Cuadro", then if the Sance call onto an individual to follow or be registrado and coronado as a Sancista de la Siete Divisiones del Panteon Sancista, one goes through various Presentaciones a los Puntos and then other ceremonies which include el Bautismo and so forth. Many Sancistas do not take on godchildren or as many, as other traditiones do because to be honest many people dont need any religious ceremonies to heal or get better, they need a good limpia, despojo and a therapist. (Trust me I have come across some Sancistas who need the same.) Also many Sancista work la Mesa del Espiritismo Criolla or Folclorica as Presidente de Mesa or Mediamnidad de Mano Derecha. Know I personally dont agree with being of multiple tradition unless they compliment each other, many times various traditions clash, but to each their own, and as my Abuelita (grandmother) usto say. Cada Cabesa es su Mundo. I respect all Faiths and Religions for each has its mysteries and its beauty, but sometimes to mix these traditions is like mixing bleech with amonia, and one can come up with a deadly clash of Titans.  Most Sancistas practice for their own well being, or for their family and close kin, and clients are taken for consultas, limpias and despojos.  Sanse although a branch of Haitian Vodou, is also deeply Spiritism, and Cristian (Catholic) and is clouser to Brazilian Umbanda Blanca and Maria Lionza Espiritismo of Venezuela in structure and beliefs.  

In Sance and I am speaking only for Sance and with a Sancista's point of view, smaller is often better, although a large Espiritismo Reunion, Velada or Misa gathering is always a good thing. "Sesiones are often smaller" In which of course we work in harmony with other respected traditions such as Ocha, Vodou, 21 Division and so on, while Fiesta Espirituales tend to be larger.

Sanse is a mix of three traditions, European, African and Native American (Taino) Chamanism;  and is a folk magico spiritual religious tradition that again although is considered a branch of Vodou, is more Amerindian "Taino" in structure and nature than its Haitian Vodou counterpart, which has more African elements and roots.  Puerto Rican Sanse is a combination of Spiritism and Vodou and deals with Spirit and ancestral veneration as it does with elements, such as wood, metal, crystals, mineral, plant, fire, air, earth, and water.

It seams where ever one goes, people like to point out that Sance is not of Puerto Rico, well duhh, this would be like saying Espiritismo is from Puerto Rico, its not, its from France, as the roots of Sanse are from Haiti. Much of what is Sance as followed in Puerto Rico and the Puerto Ricans on the U.S. mainland has its influence in other cultures, but it is as Boriqua "Puerto Rican" as los Taino who thousands of years (before Christofer Columbus) came to the islands from modern day Venezuela. To say a tradition of a place is not theirs is ignorant. It is insulting the Afro Puerto Ricans and saying they had no culture, no identity, its insulting the descendants of los Taino of Borinquen the same way. Espiritismo is not Puerto Rican, but Espiritismo Criollo, Foloclorico and Mesa Blanca as practiced by Puerto Ricans is. Also Vodou is not Puerto Rican, but Brujeria, el Vudú, Curanderismo, and Santiguarismo as practiced on the island is. Mix this all together and you will have a Sofrito of cultures, and this my people is what Sanse Borinqueña is.  It is similar to New Orleans Voodoo, and Southern Hoodoo which is not Haitian Vodou, but its origins are from Haiti and the Dominican Republic, but it is as American as American Apple Pie.  The same can be said for Puerto Rican Sanse, it may have many elements of Haitian Vodou, but it is very Puerto Rican in structure.  If someone says its a Sancocho, pues O Cara, la Yuca de los Taino, el Platano de Africa y la Aceituna de España make a damn good stew.

As with Haitian Vodou, Cuban Santeria and Dominican 21 Division, Puerto Rican Sanse synchronizes the spirits with that of Catholic Saints.  But this is not to be confused with the belief that the Catholic Saints are the Loa, they are not.  They are representations of the Loa, and is similar as saying.  "You are of your father, but you are not your father."

The names of these Spirits are known as Misterios or Lwa and  where brought to Puerto Rico with Dominicans and Haitians who migrated to Puerto Rico as early as the late 1800s who brought with them the customs and folk religions of their native home.   Although many Lwa are from Haiti, new Lwa "Misterios" have arisen in Sanse.  Often times these Puerto Rican Misterio "Loases" are not in all actuality neo-spirits, but ancient Taino Ceml spirits of nature, Cacique Chiefs, Bohique Shamans and Nitaino warriors or ancestors who have elevated and have taken their rightful place amongst the Divisions. 


Although both Haitian Vodou and Dominican 21 Division deal directly with the Loa, Sanse being also an offspring of Espiritismo, and while they do venerate the Lwa which are also known as los Santos or Los Misterios, Sanse deals with the working of spirits within one's spiritual frames.  These Spirits are known as los Emisarios, los Seres, las Comisiones, los Muertos and los Sance.  These Spirits manifest themselves in Fiestas, Veladas, Misas and Sesiones, and often manifest in a similar ways in which they may have acted in life, during their material incarnate existence.  But many times they come to give messages, or warnings of things that are yet to come.  When these spirits manifest within a banco or casilla they often salute in the traditional language, or form of salutations of the times or location in which they where alive.  Each of the Spirits often act as they were when they were alive, and each groups of Spirits acts in the traditional stereotypical way that they may have been viewed in life.  For example the Spirits of the Comisiones, Las Gitanas often come twirling around in Flamenco fashion, the Madamas are loving and nurturing while the Esclavos are quiet and wise, and the Congos are fierce Paleros.  In Puerto Rican Sanse a new group of Comision or Court of Spirits has arisen, these are known as Los Sanse.  Los Sanse or Emisarios, or Mensajeros as they were called by our parents and grandparents in Puerto Rico.  The Sanse are a group of Spirits that work as Emisarios or Embajadores "emisaries or embasadors" for the Loa.  For example, while Haitian Vodou, Cuban Santeria and Dominican 21 Division work on calling the Loa or Orisha themselves, which often rely on lengthily ritualistic chants and an order of music and sung invocations, in Puerto Rican Sanse, a spokesperson or messenger for each Misterio in called.  These spirits as I have stated are known as los Sanse, and in life they where followers, priests or priestesses of a certain Loa, or Orisha and come speaking on their behalf.  So lets say we invoke the Loa Ogou, a messenger of Ogou will come down, a Sanse, and this spirit will often demonstrate the Loa or Oricha corrientes and characteristics, but with many characteristics of their own.  But the Sanse are not the only ones to be invoked, Spirits of one's Cuadro such as Comiciones, Antepasados and even Santos are called. 

As I have stated while Haitian Vodou or Cuban Santeria call on the Loa / Orisha in lengthily ritualistic ceremonies.  In Puerto Rican Sanse as it is in Dominican 21 Division, often only a certain amount of Misterios are called.  Example, if we are having a fiesta for Santa Marta or Candelo, then they and the Spirits of that division are called, and often times other Misterios or Sanse will come, if they so wish to come.  At times we can call on a Spirit from one Division, and a Spirit from another will come.  

The Sance always act in a similar fashion as the Loa they are coming down to represent but will have many characteristics that are of their own.  The Sanse, as the Emisarios of Puerto Rican Espiritismo Criolla often come to help us or those around us in finding solutions to every day problems, removing curses, cleansing and even aiding us in finding closure to a problem we may have.  These very Sance are a part of what we call our Cuadro Espiritual, and they are as strong as the person's connection is towards them.  If the person ignores his/her Cuadro, and their responsibilities for those spirits, then it becomes weak, if you deviate from them then they will move away from you, leaving you weak and accessible to lower level spirits and other demonic forces.   Know there are Spirits within your Cuadro that will never leave your side, but each Spirit works as a frame or a shield that not only protects the spiritual body, but also the physical, mental and each of the seven layers of the aura which are the Etheric, the emotional, the mental, the astral, the etheric template, the celestial body and the causal.  (Which should be studied as a subject apart.). 

When an individual is disconnected to their spirits, their aura becomes weak  and instead of getting help from ones protective spirits, what happens is that they begin to attract negative spirits and forces which bring confusion, discomfort and disorder.  These Spirits are known by many names, such as Atrasados, Burlones, Enduresidos and Causas.  One would be surprised how much this occurs in modern day Spiritual houses, Templos, Sociedades and Centros. Many times individuals who lead a life of charlatans,  believe themselves to be mounted by Spirits of their Cuadro when in all actuality what is being manifested are Atrasados and Burlones who come down not just to moch and ridicule the Medium or Channeler but the congregation, society and temple alike.  These Spirits are not spirits that want to help individuals but cause fear, discomfort, confusion, disorder and come to mock Espiritismo, Sanse and its followers. 
I was taught early on, both by my grandmother and padrino, not just in Sance but Espiritismo, that one has to be very careful, and vigilant when mounting one's muerto or working one's Cuadro for la obra de la caridad within a room full of strangers.  Many well trained and knowlwdgable Sancistas or Espiritistas will never mount in a room full of desconosidos. We don't mount because every one is mounting, or because it seams like the in thing to do at the moment, or that we feel we have to prove something.  In all actuality in the Centros and Templos of times past el Presidente de Mesa did not mount, this was the job of la Mediamnidad de Mano Derecha, el Presidente de Mesa's job was to make sure no malignant spirits would come forth, safeguard the body of the mediums who did mount and keep order in the Centros.  Also Espiritistas and Sancistas when dealing with muertos should also understand the rule of "Las Tres Gotas de Sangre", and prior to any Misa or Sesion we go before our Cuadro so they may protect us from those who would only wish harm upon us.  We need to understand that we must spiritually, physically and mentally protect ourselves before Sesiones, especially in a room full of people we do not know or fully trust.   Traditionally a Sancista and Espiritista prepares themselves for the task mentally, physically and spiritually.  A knowledgeable Sancista and Mediamnidad of Espiritismo should  fast 8 hours before sesiones or misas, releave their bodies of human waists, take herbal baths, pray and meditate, asking for inner strength and protection.  Not just from the evil eye and the wagging tongue of those who may be present at any given gathering, but also that an Espiritu de Causa is not absorbed into the Sancista by those who carry them, or to protect their Spirits from those who envy them and would do anything to have that Spirit work for them.

The Tableau Espiritual, Mesa Blanca and Santuario, are the sacred house and central shrines which is the altar kept for the various Santos, the Mesa Blanca / Mesa Espiritual "Boveda" is the house shrine for ones dead and ancestors.  La Plaza Espiritual is a special altar made for ceremonies such as misas, veladas and sesiones, and within a Plaza Espiritual one places all the candles and offerings, pańos, ritual objects and items that will be used during the spiritual ceremony.  These altars can be as elaborate or as simple as one's personal financial means allows, and are as different in every home as the Loases and Sanse themselves are within each individuals Cuadro.  Every Muerto, and Sanse works different for every person, and no two Sanse or Muerto are ever quite alike.

Many of the characteristics and mannerisms of the Misterios, Muertos and Sanse venerated and respected in Sanse can be viewed as offensive in other orthodox traditions.  They often enjoy the material pleasures of life as they mount a host's body, they enjoy to smoke tobacco, drink rum, and pitorro, dance, and can at time speak in vulgar languages.  Some of the female Lua and Muertos can be flirtatious and coquettish, while male Lua and Muertos often demonstrate strong male characteristics. They salute the public in the traditional language of how they may have saluted in life, and love to cleanse the public with smoke, liquor, fresh herbs, coconuts, eggs, and perfumed scented herbal waters.   

As I have stated before a Sancista baptized in Sanse de las 21 Division de los 7 jefes del Panteón Sancista, who has been Presentado a los Puntos, and those Mediums who practice Espiritismo Criollo and Folklorico must be well educated and knowledgeable not just in the world of Spirits, but also must demonstrate mediamistic and psychic abilities and although most of their knowlwdge will be learned with the participation of a Sociedad or Centro, much is also learned through prayer and meditation infront of his/her Spiritual Table and Spiritual Frame.  "Mesa Espiritual y Cuadro Espiritual."

Again I want to reinstate that traditionally speaking a Sancista or Espiritista that was perceived as a Presidente de Mesa was not viewed as such until a mature age of 30 and over.  I mean no disrespect to the 30 and younger Sancistas and Espiritistas that are out there today, I am speaking about the way it was traditionally done, not just in Puerto Rican Sanse and Espiritismo but in Espiritismo in Venezuela and Brazil and traditions such as Umbanda and Maria Lionza Espiritismo.  At any age one can be a Mediamnidad of Espiritismo and be baptised into Sanse, but this alone does not give you the title of Presidente de Mesa or Sancista Mayor, at these ages one in an aprendiz or an ahijado / a.  While we are all born with a degree of phsychic and mediamistic abilities, it takes development, learning and wisdom accumulated through age to run a Centro, Templo or Sociedad.  The individual must first Desarollar Espiritualmente "Spiritually Develop" and be of a mature age; el desarollo espiritual takes much time, patience and great faith. There is allot of studying and learning that the Espiritista and Sansista must undertake.  Baptism into Sanse is a way one can begin to develop spiritual faculties, development of Mediamistic abilities, but these ceremonies alone will not give them to you.  They give you the key to the car, and you must learn how to start the car and learn how to drive it responsibly.  Reckless driving can lead to serious injuries including death, this is also true when dealing with the realm of Spirits. 

In today's modern society I have noticed a trend, every one is baptised or crowned something and often crowned multiple traditions that was unheard of in Africa, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Many times apposing traditions are intermingled into a poisonous gas that is more dangerous than that of mixing Bleach with Ammonia, something that traditionally was viewed as apposing forces or apposing religions.  Also many individuals are Jacks of all trades, but masters of none, few have taken the needed requirements to develop spiritually, and Sanse like all respected traditions often take a life time of learning. 

Skills such as the different type of psychic or mediamistic abilities such as Seer "Vidente / Clairvoyance", Auditor "Oyente / Clairaudience", one should know the difference between an Espiritu de excistencia, a causa, an espiritu endurecido, espiritus obscuros, arastrantes, and burlones.  One should know the difrent between dark spirits, demons, and good spirits and so forth, and this list goes on and on.

 

CHARLATANES!!!

 

Mathew 23:25-28

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

 

Mateo 23; 25-28

¡Ay de ustedes, maestros de la ley y fariseos, hipócritas! Limpian el exterior del vaso y del plato, pero por dentro están sucios, llenos de avaricia y de desenfreno y se permiten todo tipo de excesos!
¡Fariseo ciego! Limpia primero por dentro el vaso y el plato, y así quedará limpio también por fuera.

Ay de ustedes, maestros de la ley y fariseos, hipócritas!, Qué aflicción les espera, que son como tumbas blanqueados. Por fuera lucen hermosos, pero por dentro están llenos de huesos de muertos y de toda clase de impurezas.

Por fuera parecen personas rectas, pero por dentro, el corazón está lleno de hipocresía, maldad y desenfreno.

Sadly to hear, I recieve many emails and am hearing horror stories all over on Sancistas doing Investigaciones and Alineaciones for ridicuolouse amounts of money, I have also heard of stories of individuals paying 400 for each presentacion a los puntos, 1,500 for Bautismo and other ceremonies.  I have even heard how all the ceremonies start to finish are being done in several hours, a process that should take 5 to 7 days are being done in two hours, this of course saddens my heart as individuals are being taken advantage of.  Each Punto is like a  baptismal and should take a few hours of prepeartion and ritualistic work, and there are various ceremonies, not just that of the Puntos. 

What ever happened to La Obra de la Caridad or charitable works that was highly practiced in Centros in the time of my parents and grandparents.  Also I am hearing stories of Padrinos and Madrinas doing black magic and sorcery on their godchildren, and pitting godchild against godchild, these Sancistas who are suppose to be a role model are unscrupulous, having little if any moral values and principles. 

This abuse has gone long enough and this goes for all traditions of the Caribbean.   I understand that each spiritual punto has costs and items to purchase but this does not go into the thousands. 

Also charging for Misas, Veladas and Sesiones would have been viewed as scandelous in the eyes of our grandparents.  These individuals have no respect or love for themselves and their spiritual families, let alone for the tradition of their ancestors.  They have no true love for their tradition, they honor manipulation, power and the almighty green dollar bill.  Also these individuals love to have control of their godchildren, they love to manipulate them into other things in order to get more money, even for an advice that should come naturally and from the heart.

I educate my ahijados and ahijadas very carefully and the ways in which it was done in the old days, and take the time to get to know each and every one.  I have only had one problem with one, who wanted fame and power and tried to intimidate me into ceremonies.  I am generally a prochable and mild mannered individual, but not easily intimidated, and will never tolerate or stand for disrespect or being intimidated.  Respect me and I respect you.  Eventually my Spirits told me to let him go and I did and I will never place myself in a situation such as that. "knock on wood!".  I teach them the way I was taugh, an Investigacion is 25.00 a consulta the same, and together if possible we will get the items needed for the Puntos, the only ceremony that is a bit pricey is the last of the Ceremonies, which in my Sociedad does not even reach past a few hundreds because of the items required for the final ceremonies.  Also I teach my ahijados as I was taught, that the first year after bautismo and initiation, one is still under development until the first year is over in which they recieve their Cuaderno Libreta Espiritual "the text book of our tradition, and then and only then are they considered Sancistas and if they choose can take on their own ahijados.


Sancista Brujo Luis

 

ORACION DEL OJO y LENGUA

 

Grandioso Padre Dios, Ojo visor que siempre me proteje y elumina mi camino. Cuidame y amparame de las lengua maldita de mis enemigos, que solamente quieren traer culumnias, abuso, aggression, mentiras, desafios, y la muerte a mi.  Que la Sangre de Cristo los Reprenda!  Protegeme y amparame de los Mal de Ojos y la habladuria de personas negativa y miserables.  Paz, Paz, Cristo, Cristo.  Dominus Nostrum.  Amen, Ache y Asi Sea!!

 

ENGLISH

Prayer to the Evi Eye and Gossip

Great Heavenly Father, your watchful eyes always protects and lights my path.  Guard me from the hateful language of my enemies, who only wish to slander, abuse,  submit aggression upon me, lie, challenge my worth, and wish that death be brought upon me.   May the blood of Christ Repel Them.  Lord I Pray, remove all negative influences and harmful individuals from my path.  Protect, Guard and Spare me from the envy of those filled with misery.  Paz, Paz, Cristo, Cristo.  Dominus Nostrum.

Amen, Ache and so Be it!!

SANCISTA BRUJO LUIS

PAPA LEGBA SPIRIT AT THE CROSSROADS

 ELEGBA / PAPA LEGBA / ELEGGUA / LEBA / ELEGBARA

 

"I am the staff of his power in his youth,

And he is the rod of my old age.

And whatever he wills happens to me."

 

Legba the Misterio of the Crossroads, is a Loa that can be as noble as he can be chaotic, he can represent order and disorder, he can be creative as he is destructive.  Legba is the Divine Trickster of the roads, and the greatest symbol of transformation.  He is the young disobedient child but at the same time the wise old sage, he embodies change in every corner, in every stage, in every step one takes.  One moment one can be strong and healthy as an Ox, and the next moment one can be as fragile as a butterfly.  In one corner one can be full of vibrant life, while in the next corner one can be as cold as a corpse.  Papa Legba represents the pathways one chooses, to be as divine as God so intends us to be "our creative nature", but at the same time he embodies human failings,"our destructive nature."

Legba is not one, but many and they are always present, always vigilant, always ready to unleash new forms of corruption and destruction as he is ready to bring blessings, abundance and opportunities.  He is one of the eldest of the Divine Spirits but within him lies the vitality and youth that would portray him as one of the youngest.   He is the master linguist, the great messenger, the one who holds the keys to the realm of the Divine, the realm of the living and the realm of the dead.   Legba is also very wise and often resides in every realm, often on the side or on the outskirts, unnoticed but always watching, vigilant and always ready to act.

Legba is the guardian of the crossroads but also the guardian of pathways, of entrances and exits, and it is within these points that he has the power over destiny which he is second in ranks under the Divine Spirit of Destiny, Fa.  But unlike Fa who stands high above in a remote area often unreachable, Legba is close to the ground, below a person's head and torso, symbolizing his closeness and ever presence in our world. 

Legba as the Ghede can be malicious, and often ignores social restrictions and his deceitful, often malicious trickster ways knows no boundaries, this goes for the living, the dead, the divine and the demonic alike.    But Legba is a Misterio which no one can fully comprehend, and often his acts of trechery and deceitfulness, which at the time seams unjustified to the humans he deals his cards to is the way Legba helps those who need it, in order for them to reconcile and find a solution which in turn will restore balance in the individuals life.

Like the Gede, Elegba's appetite is colossal, and like the Ogun, his job is never done, for he like Ogun, knows no rest.  It is because of Legba's often malicious, playful and trickster ways, Buen Dios el Todopoderoso "God" and unlike other Division of Spirits that are governed by a head Spirit, Legba does not have his own Kingdom and does not govern any, but he is an essential part of every Division, because without first agknowleding his presence, he will refuse to open the gateways to other Loases.  But as I have stated Legba are many, they are like every Division, a Legion; and in Sanse and 21 Division they are known collectively as Lebanes, Lecuas or Leguas.  Papa Buen Dios knows that to have a Division of Legba apart from other Divisions would be a group of Masters of Chaos and disorder.  For this reason each Legba although they work under other Divisions, are never viewed as less than or insignificant than the leader of that particular Division, for to see it that way is to insult Legba, insuring that he does not open the doors of opportunities and blessing and in turn bringing chaos into an individuals life.

Elegba "Legba" is here and there, in one place at a time, but still in many, and their is no Kingdom or Division of Spirits where Elegba is not present.  He is in every house, in every door, in every pathway, in every corner, and it is there where Elegba learns everything that happens.  He thus becomes the emissary of God, his spokesman, intermediary between the living and the dead, between Men and Spirit, between the Divine and Holy, and the demonic.   Although there are always questions about his moral judgment and his sense of responsibility. He is always unpredictable and uncontrollable, and for this reason like all Loa he is a Mystery. 

In Africa as is with Cuba Elegba  "Eleggua / Niño de Atocha" is viewed as a young, phallic spirit with an unseasonal appetite for sexual energy, but in Haiti he is viewed as Papa Legba, "Saint Lazarus" the ancient white beared sage of experience and wisdom.  In Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico he is Saint Anthony of Padua "Leggua" holding baby Jesus, both young and old but of the same Nacion, while San Lazarus is Papa Viejo or Legba Carifu, the elder spirit who has crossed many roads in his life and is always ready for the next road and stage of his life. 

In all traditions, Umbanda, Candomble, Santeria, Sanse, and all in between, he is invoked and prayed to first before any other Misterio, before any Division, so that the living ensure that he is pleased and will allow the gateways to be opened.  Even in Espiritismo Criollo one knocks on the wooden table three times to San Hilarion ensuring his blessings, before any candle is lit or bell rung.

Although many traditions synchronize him with el Niño de Atocha, and Saint Anthony of Padua, "each Legua has his vuelta.". Many synchronize Papa Legba with that of San Lazarus, while the younger Spirits within this Division enjoy to dance and play pranks, the elders of this Division are sareen and walk with a limp, in which they support their balance by a cane, crutches or walking sticks.  While the younger Legbas dress in fine satins and silk adorned with cowrie shells, the elder Legbas dress in tattered heavily used sack cloths which demonstrates their on going mission, age and hard work.  While the younger Legba enjoy, sweets, toys,  whistles, coins, noise makers, sweetened coffee with milk & honey or molasses and pastries, the elder Legba enjoy rum, aguardiente, tobacco, unsweetened espresso coffee and salty meats.  Both take their offerings close to the ground or on the floor in a corner of a wall which symbolizes that this Division of Spirits, like the Gede are closest to our realm of existence.   The younger Legbas dress in red and black demonstrating their closeness to life and death while the elder Legua dress in brown demonstrating their age and wisdom.  While the younger Leguas enjoy being within the mists of crowds, the elder are hermits and enjoy their solitude.

Legba's liquid offerings are always served in cups made of hollowed out coconut shells, small gourds, tin or white enamelware cups, and his food offerings are placed within Jigueras, weaved baskets or terra cotta plates which is always accompanied with lighted red, black, white or brown candles.  Also Legua are tricksters and one never assumes that what is being offered is acceptable and for this reason one communicates with him directly through his oracles, to make sure he excepts or even wants what is being offered, or if he requires more.  Legba is known as the Jefe of all the Saints, Loa, and Misterio, and a bit of an offering to one must also be given to him first.

In Santeria and Sanse, ceremonies Papa Legba "Eleggua" is the first to be saluted and one thing that most traditions share a common knowledge of is that saluting, offering and praising Elegba first before any Misterio is essential in the insurance of a successful working, dealing or interaction with other Loa.  Without a salutation to the Legua that makes a part of your cuadro, it would be almost impossible to have contact with other Loa; since he is the one who opens the doors, mapping the direction and passes along the paths, the one who knows all languages.

"Papa Legba, abre la puerta para mí, Papa Legba, abre la puerta para mí Abre la puerta para mí, Papa, ¡Para yo pasar, cuando vuelva yo le agradeceré al Lwa!

 

Abra la verja para el Lwa, abra la verja Papa Legba. Abra la verja para el Lwa, abra la verja, Papa Legba que hemos llegado, que esperaré por ellos aquí.

 

Papa Legba, open the door for me, Papa Legba, open the door for me, Papa Legba, I go to when I again thank the Lwa!

 

Open the gate to the Lwa, open the gate, open the gate for the Lwa for me Papa Legba, open the gate, Papa Legba and I will wait for then here.

Legba is symbolized by the central pole used to invoke the other Loa within the temples.  He is the foundation on which rests the world of both the dead and the Mysteries.  His staff, cane or pole symbolizes the phalic symbol in which life all though unseen at first comes through.  He simply is the foundation on which rests the Spirit world, and he is the central axis of every punto firmado, every veve and every sigil written with cascarilla, salt or powdered corn meal "no matter how simple or complex" in which all Misterio manifest.

Although Elegba is a trickster Lwa he is also the master of humbleness and humility.  Humility is a way to see the virtues of those around you and in truly understanding their attitude in any given situation. When a person is humble, they are open to the views and opinions of others.  Only with humility and humbleness can humans communicate and share ideas, and it is in these great virtues where Papa Legba manifests. 

As Legba is humble and a trickster at the same time, he also demonstrates that amongst the humble is where he is present bestowing his blessings, while amongst the corrupt, he is present waiting for the moment to strike his mighty blow.  Although he is present in all ceremonies, it is within the most modest of gatherings that one sees the side of Papa Legba few rarely witness.
As the master linguist and messenger of the Misrerios, Loases, Orisha and other Divisions of spirits, it is imperative that those that follow these traditions know the name of the Camino or Vuelta of Legua that makes up their Cuadro.  For this reason the Guerillero ceremony in Ocha and the Punto de los Encrucijadas in Sanse is of vital importance within these traditions, and the vuelta or camino of these Spirits can only be deciphered by those highly trained initiates of these traditions.

Papa Legba is an old man, of a thin and lithesome body, and is viewed as a dark skinned man or a well suntanned individual, because he's always in the open sunlight the roads and covers up in the coolness of night.  Like the Santeria Orisha Babalu Aye, Papa Legba is often seen accompanied by dogs.  In Sanse the healing aspect of Babalu Aye is synchronized with Saint Roque and is known as the Lwa Papa Sobo.  Although Saint Lazarus is also seen as Legba Carifou the Legba who can bring illnesses at the crossroads and passages of life.  

He is feared, greatly respected, always venerated and loved especially since he demonstrates kindness and opens the pathways for great opportunities.  If Legba was the demons within Pandora's box he would be every single one, especially that one known as Hope. 

Every day belongs to Legba but he is traditionally venerated on Mondays.  In his Rada personage he favors the colors red and white, while in his Petro personage red and black are his colors.  In Dominican 21 Division and the Puerto Rican Sanse tradition, brown is also added to his colors. His sacred symbols are skeleton keys, crosses, canes and crutches, and each of his vuelta within Sanse, Vodou and 21 Division he is synchronized with a Catholic Saint such Nino de Atocha, San Antonio de Padua, San Pedro and San Lazaro while in Cuban Espirirismo Cruzado and Puerto Rican Espirirismo de la Mesa Blanca he is synchronized with San Hilarion, who is known as Lecua or Legua in Sanse.  Every Afro Carribean and Afro South American country has a Papa Legba, and he is known as Exu, Eshu, Leba, Elegbara, Eleggua, Eleda, Eleguasito, Eù, and Lubaniba, to name a few.

Papa Legba enjoys his tobacco, his cigar smoke can not be replaced, "if your health conscious, then Papa Legba is not a Loa you want to work with.". Papa Legba loves to cover his head with a Pava "straw hat, and while most of his offerings are placed on the ground he often will except a sack cloth bag filled with his offerings which is hung on a branch of a.Ceiba tree near or on a crossroads.  He has a faithful wife who is also a Lwa and her name is Adjessi.  Adjessi is the feminine aspect of Papa Legba and is known in some traditions as Pomba Gira.  Adjessi in Haitian Vodou is known as Gran Ayizan Velekete who is the wife of Loco.  Papa Loco as he is also known in a vuelta of Papa Legba who is synchrenized with San Joaquin and is the Lwa who leads spirits of the dead into the head.  Adjessi / Ayizan is also known as La Señorita Klemezin Klemey or Metresa Clarabel and is synchronized with Saint Claire. 

In Legba's darkest Petro aspects he is Karifu, or Eshu, and some synchronize this Loa with the Angel of the Morning Star, the Light Bringer or the Loa who has the keys to the realms of hell.  In this vuelta he is also known as Legba Manose ( Legba Nan Petro ) who is synchronized with the Catholic Saint, San Cayetano.  

As I have stated Papa Legba is always saluted with rum, water and tobacco smoke, and he is the Loa that speaks directly to us through divination tools such as the coconut, sea shells, bones, tobacco, dice, playing cards and the Tarot.  ( In the Tarot he is el Loco, the Jester or the Fool card.)  His attention is gotten by the wrapping of the altar with the knuckles, the ringing of the campana, or the rattling of the Maraca, Tcha tcha, Asson, or Chekere.  Each tradition and Division of Spirits has its traditional instrument used for getting his attention and gestures.

 

SERVICIOS

Papa Legba enjoys many servicios and each vuelta has his preference, and is always determined by the casting of coconut or sea shells.  He enjoys to drink water, hard liquor, coffee, and cola soft drinks, and he enjoys to feast on corn meal, pop corn, bread, plantains, yams, yucca, malanga smothered in palm oil and sprinkled with coconut meat.  Offerings include steak, pork, poltry, goat meat and all fresh fruit, the fruit is often served with fresh sugar cane and placed within jigueras.  In some aspects he enjoys salted fish and rooster meat, served over black or red beans and rice, and is always topped of with a glass of liquor and a lit pipe of tobacco or lit cigars.  His younger vueltas enjoys hard candies, coins, sweetened yuca guava paist and frosted cakes, while his Petro vueltas enjoy foods prepared with a lot of spices, cayenne peppers, or hot chili or tobacco sauce all served on terra cotta plates, hollowed gourds and jigueras. 

There are many vueltas of Legba, some honored in Temples while others in Sociedades. Some are known more so in one tradition, while others are only venerated in smaller Sociedades.  Of these one finds Legba the vagabond that walks during the night, or Legba Miwa that resides Miwa behind mirrors, Legba el Viejo that resides within mirrors, Legba of the crossroads, or Legba with his cane or pitch fork, Legba the trickster or Legba the sage, but no matter where one finds him; one always finds a Loa of raw human emotions, fears and desires. 

Prayer to Eshu

I praise the mysteries and power of Eshu!
You are the messenger of Olodumare, the Orisha and the Ancestors
You are the owner of the four directions:
North, South, East and West
You are the keeper of the Ashe' of the Orisha
You are the guardian of the gates of fortune
You are the Lord of flexibility
You are the Lord of choice, chance and change!

Eshu protect my family.
Protect the initiates of the Temple and me also.
Let me not be moved against the people.
Let not the people be moved against me.
Grant me long life.
Grant me peace.
Grant me elevation of my consciousness.
Grant me the ability to use my own hands.
Eshu I salute you

 

 

SANCISTA BRUJO LUIS

 

 

Las 21 Verdades de las 21 Divisiones del Panteón Sancista Puerto Riqueña.

Las 21 Verdades de las 21 Divisiones del Panteón Sancista Espiritismo Puerto Riqueña.

 

 

 

 

The 21 Truths of the

21 Division of Puerto Rican Sanse / Sance Tradition.

1.  Exige a sus hijos comprension para los demas humanos

2.   No Juzgues a los Demas sin antes buscar y estar seguro que no hay nada que perturbe espiritual o venga de existencias.

3.  Viva una vida mas humana, y haga la obra de la caridad a nuestros hermanos o semijantes.   Desde cualquier punto, a base de nuestras oraciones y transmision de pensamientos. 

4. No debemos olvidar que somos espiritus encarnados, y que aqui venimos a pagar las deudas espirituales, y no contraer mas, ya que seria encadenarnos a mas sufrimiento.  Recuerde que la vida es una Prueba de tus facultades.

5.  No le hagas daño a nadie, ni tirar o debolver la piedra que nos tiren.  No tires con tus manos, ni con tus maldiciones, tire con tus oraciones y bendiciones, recuerda que en el campo santo y en el campo espiritual esta Papa Belier y Papa Bokor.  Ellos nos defienden, ellos se encargan, con el permiso de Gran Solè.

6. No Diga lo que no sabes.

7.  No hagas ritos que no conoces.

8.  No llevar a otras personas por vias falsas.

9.  No engañes a los demas, ni digas mentiras, ni falsos testimonios.

10.  No pretendas ser sabio en cosas que no conoces.

11.  Sea Humilde pero hagase respetar. Sea paciente.

12.  No seas un Profeta Falso y no seas falso en todos los asuntos de tu vida.

13.  Observar ciertos tabúes, no Rompas los Tabu de los Misterios y los Emisarios.

14.  Mantenga tus Jarros, tus Tinajas, tus Puntos, tus instrumentos y tus altares siempre limpios.  Lo que es sucio, o desordenado trai negatividad.  Respete los Puntos, firmados, cantados, y recibidos.

15.  Mantenga su templo, su casa, su hogar, su cuerpo limpio.

16.  Respete siempre a los demas y a los debiles.

17.  Siempre respete a las leyes morales.

18.  Nunca traiciones a un hermano o hermana. Y no tomes en sus manos lo que no es suyo.

19.  Respete siempre a tus mayores.

20.  Respete las Jerarguias.

21.  Nunca reveles los secretos de nuestra tradicion.

 

 

The 21 Truths of the Sanse Tradition

 

 

 

1.  Teach your children understanding and respect for other humanity.

2.  Do not judge others without first seeking and being sure that they will be deprimental to your spiritual growth.  

3.  Live a more humane life, give freely to your brothers and sisters, with out searching for anything in return.  Give freely by any measure, based on the transmission of our prayers and thoughts of well being.

4.  We must not forget that we are embodied spirits, and that we have come here of our own free will to pay our spiritual debts.  To create more will ill is to add another link to the chains that will bring us more suffering.   Remember that life is a test of your abilities.

5.  Do not hurt another, or cast the first stone.  Do not strike anoth er, but instead bless them and pray for them.  Remember that in the realm of Spirit and in the realm of the Loa there stands Belier Belcan and Papa Bokor who will take it apon themselves to handle the situation with the permission of Gran Solier.

6.  Do not speak of things you do not know of.

7.  Do not perform rituals you have no knowledge of.

8.  Do not leed others through false pathways.  

9.  Do not mislead others, tell lies or false testimonies.

10.  Do not make yourself a Sage of things you do not have the basic knowledge of. 

11.  Be humble towards others, and make sure all respect you as you respect them. 

12.  Do not be a false prophet. Do not be false.

13.  Observe certain taboos.  Do not break the Taboo of the Loa, the Mysteries and their messengers. 

14.  Keep your Jars, your sacred vessels, your sacred tools and your altars clean. What is dirty or messy will bring negativity.

15.  Keep your temple, the house, the body cleaned.

16.  Respect all who are weaker than you.

17.  Respect all moral laws. 

18.  Never betray a brother, sister or another, and do not take that which is not yours.

19.  Hold great respect for your elders.

20.  Respect ones hierarchy

21.   Never reveal the secrets of our tradition to those who do not pertain to it. 

LINK BY SANCISTA BRUJO LUIS

THE CODE OF THE PUERTO RICAN SANCE, SANTERISMO AND BRUJERIA

 

 

The Commission of the Arabians / SANSE TRADITION

Comision de los Arabes

The Commission of the Arabians

One of the most popular and misunderstood Commission of Spirits within Sanes, Espiritismo Criolla and Santerismo is the Comission de los Arabes, "Arabians".  Many people from Spain can trace their descendants from Arabia, and the Arabian culture as well as the Moorish and Roman, and traces of these cultures can be seen and felt in Spanish food, language and architecture.   Not only in Spain but through out the Caribbean and Latin America, were many Arabians and Spanish Arabian descendants migrated to and called home.  Many Espiritistas have a Guia of an Arabe in their Cuadro Espiritual, I have one that revealed himself to me in a Sesion but I rarely work with him because of lack of knowledge of him and because he has yet to reveal more of his identity to me.

The Arabes are Spirits that work under the element of Air and Fire, and can be very hot tempered. They like oil lamps with scented oils, and of course resin incense. They are spirits of high magic and will not work any form of low magic such as Brujeria, root work or Hoodoo, they prefer to work High Magic such as Alchemy, written spells, seals, amulets and Talisman magic.

EL ARABE

The Arabe within a Cuadro Espiritual are spirits that hold the keys to the ancient wisdom of magic. They are known for their thievery and love of gold.and jewelry, and the Spirits often take gold, gemstones and even semi precious stones which they use in their magic. There are many folklore that say the Wise Magi (Magus) or the three Wise Men, who visited the new born Christ child were Arabian, some say Persian Wizards. They are astronomers, star gazers, and mathematicians and many in life were also sorcerers.

If and when they come down in a Misa they are very wise, and knowledgeable, and often come telling an individual that a certain tradition is not meant for them.  The Spanish word, Ojala, as in "Ojala que no llueva" can be traced back to the Arabian influence within the Spanish culture.   Ojala means. O Alah, and I find it a bit hysterical when Pentecostals say it.   "More about Ojala below."

The Djinn / The Genies / Los Genios

(Los Genios, also called Genies, Djinn or Jinn.)

Many Espiritistas and Sancistas agree that the Arabians that make up one of our guide is often accompanied with a Genio or a Djinn. The Djinn are classified as Lower Demons, and can be good or evil. There are legends that say that the Demon (Devil) that tempted Jesus in the Dessert was a Djinn by the name of Shaitan where we get our word Satan from .
( Seitan Shaytan, or Shaitan, or any variation are Djjin that whisper in humans ears tempting humans to commit sins.  While Good Djjin are said to have a blue aura or blueish skin, which represents their coolness and milder temper, the Djjin who are of a more malignant and aggressive nature have a red aura or red skin, which represents an aggressive nature.
  
One account tells how the Biblical King Solomon was the only human to have complete powers over the more aggressive Djinn, especially one in particular which he used to dominate his enemies, control his kingdom and have power over demons.

Many times Espiritistas who maintain a statue of an Arabian on an altar often place a lantern or oil lamp, without having knowledge of what the lantern may represent.  Although it is rare for Espiritistas to work with Genie spirits, these lanterns have their origin in Genie "Djjin" lore.

Apparently, the Arabic word djinn or jinn or genie comes from the same root as the word "genius", found in all Aryan languages, which corresponds to a very particular type of playful, mischievous and trickster spirit that can bestow wishes, but often at a price. They are wise, and highly intelligent, and can be masters of deception.

Ancient Islamic tradition states that Allah made Angels out of pure light, humans were.created.from dust and.the Djjin were created from fire.   Their bodies are said to be not of solid matter, but of smoke, which holds a strong stench, being compared to that of a mixture of sulfur and skunk spray. 

EL ARABE

They are said to be older than humans, and have an almost longer indefinite life span.  Some are said to be immortal and some traditions also state that they excited 2000 years before Adam and Eve.  Again the.malignant Djjin Ibis (Shaitan) is said to be the Djjin who transformed into a serpent and tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Life.   It is understood that although the Djjim have a human appearance they can assume any form they desire at will.  They can appear as a man, a dog, an elephant, a tiger, a scorpion or a snake.  The Djjin have the abilities to float on air and fly.  They can become invisible at will, and they are said to be able to transport or fly into the lower heavens where they spy on Angelic activities.  Ancient Arabian Sorcerers and Wizards used these abilities of the Djjin to eavesdrop on Angelic conversations about future events.  The, Sorcerers used this information as a source of divine wisdom to profasize about future events. 

The Djjin live similar lives as humans do, but exist within a parallel universe within our own, in between the realm of the Living and the realm of the Spirit, which is not effected by our time, hence why they seem to be immortal.  In rare cases the Djjin have been said to cross into the.material plane in which human greed and the Djjin´s mischievous nature.and ways made them cause havoc upon the earth.  It is believed that ancient Arabian wizards and sorcerers where able to imprison those Djjins, into bottles, rings and lanterns.  Female Djjins are traditionally imprisoned in bottles while male Djjin where imprisoned within lanterns.  These bottles and lanterns also preserved their life span within our world.   King Solomon's ring was said to have had an imprisoned a Djjin that bestowed upon him wisdom and the knowledge to control demons, and the wisdom of seals.  These lanterns, bottles and rings are made of Gold and precious stones and hidden from man being able to release the Djjin within them, which is as simple as rubbing or polishing the bottle or lantern. Some are said to be hidden under desolate and inhabitable locations such as the desserts, and frozen tundras, while others under the depths of the oceans.  Still others believe that the Djjin coexist within this earth, often they live within the outskirts of human societies, and venture within it disguised as humans or animals.

The Djjin that live within groups also are said to be religious, atheists, agnostics, and even heretics.  Human history has attributed much natural disasters such as.floods, sandstorms volcanic.eruption and destruction of whole civilizations to the Djjins.  Also shooting stars where once believed to be Angels cast from Heaven by God, some of these Angels became demons while others Djjins.

If the Arabian that is within your Cuadro Espiritual was a Sorcerer or Wizard, it is believed that even in death they have a connection with the Djjin they had in life.  These Djjin to the Spirit of the Arabian is somewhat like a Tutelary deity, dæmon, daimôn, which is similar to a Spirit Guide that works within your Cuadro Espiritual.

ARABIAN LEGEND 

The Two Friends

LOS ARABES

There is a tale of two Arabian friends who where traveling through the dessert, when a disagreement erupted amongst both of them.  One of the friends became so enraged with the other that in a fit of anger he hit the other. 

The one who had been hit was so offended and in shock  that his close friend struck him, that he could not say a word in disbelief.  He sat on the sand of the dunes of the dessert and wrote with his finger upon the sand.

(This Day my friend striked me apon the face.)

Soon after the one who had gotten hit forgave his friend, they got on their camels and arrived to a lush dessert oasis.  They were so hungry and hot that they feasted on Coconuts and fresh clean water.  Soon afterwards they decided to refresh themselves from the dessert sun, and began to swim in the oasis waters.  But the one who got hit swam to deep and began to drown.  The friend who had struck him quickly rescued him and brought him to the safety of the shore.
The one who got hit then went up to a rock and with a chisel wrote upon the rock.

(This Day My Friend saved my LIFE.)

This surprised his friend, which asked.  "Why is it that when I strike you, you wrote on the sand, and now that I saved your life, you write upon a stone?"  At this the friend replied.  "When a dear friend does something that may hurt or offend us, one should write upon the sand were the winds of forgetfulness and forgiveness will be responsible for erasing and deleting it from our memories,  but on the.other hand, when a dear.friend does something good for you, one must record it on the stones in memory of their kindness, where no winds on earth will erase it. 

ARABIAN LEGEND 

 The Genies and True Happiness

In the beginning of time, when God made men walk upon the earth, some mischievous Genies met within the dessert.  One said.  "We must take away something valuable from men, but what shall we take?"

After much thought one said.  "I know, lets take true happiness away from men and hide it from them!"  "And where shall we hide it?"  Said another Genie.  "Let us hide it on the highest peak of the earth!"  Replied one, to which another replied. "No!"  "Remember man has a strong will, and the day will come when they will climb mountains and find it."  "Then let us hide it within the depths of the Seas!"  "No!  Remember man is a curious creature and the day shall come when they will invent a device to take them to the depths of the seas, and they shall find it." 

Another Genie then replied. "Let us hide it in a far off planet, such as the moon or maybe a star!"   "No!"   Replied another.  "Remember man is in aw with the sky, the moon, the stars.and heaven and the day shall come when.men will learn to fly and they will reach the moon and stars.and there they shall find it!"

Amongst the Genies there sat one who was wiser than them all, his name was Ibis Sheitan.  Ibis Sheitan listened quietly to his brother Genies then rose and said.  "I know exactly where to hide true Happiness, where no man will ever find it."  "Oh egsaulted and wisest amongst us, let us no where to hide true Happiness, where no man shall ever find it."  Replied all the Genies.  "We shall hide it within their very souls, in this way, man will always look out and far, and will never truly look within."  Replied Ibis Sheitan.

They all agreed knowing very well that Ibis Sheitan was the wisest amongst them, and they hid true happiness within the souls of men.  And from that day on until the end of times, men shall always look for true happiness all over the world, never knowing that true happiness can only.come from within their very souls.

LA CORTE ARABE

Arabian Saints

There are many Arabian Saints honored within Santeria, Sanse and Santerismo, Santa Barbara being one who is viewed as Chango to some Oya to others or Erzulie Dantor to others.  Saints Cosmas and Saint Damian are known as La Marassa, los Jemelos and were martyrs born in Arabia who had dreams revealing how to heal others.

Talisman Ojala Spell

This is a Spanish written spell that uses the word Ojala which is a corruption of the Arabian word for Inshallah, which means  "Allah wills it."

The term Ojala is used in.all Spanish speaking countries as a way of saying.  "I.Hope"  It is used in many talismans and amulets as a way of bringing ones desires and wishes.  There are many variations of the spell, some use candles, tobacco, herbs, or incense.  Here is the spell as it is written in Judika Ille's book.  Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. 

On a small piece of paper, write, while focusing on your desire. 

O J A L A

O J A L

O J A

O J

O

Fold the paper carefully and wear it within a locket or a medicine bag until your desired goal is achieved.

THE CUADRO ESPIRITUAL SANSE TRADITION

THE CUADRO ESPIRITUAL

Mis Emisarios de la Alta Luz, derme Salud, Prosperidad, Desarollo y Desenvolvimiento.  Que ustedes siempre vayan por delante que yo siempre les sigiras por detras.

My Emissaries of the Highest Light, bless me with Health, Prosperity, Development and Unfolding. May you always go before me and I will humbly follow from behind.

 

We are all born into this world in the company of a Principle Spirit Guide and a Guardian Angel assigned to us by Papa Buen Dios to lead us into the path of living a well rounded and stable life.  As time passes and one grows older and wiser, we accumulate more protective spirits that become a part of one's Cuadro Espiritual.  These Spirits aid us in learning, progressing and help us in healing. 

Ones Principle Guide and other protective Spirits are often ancestral spirits or familiar spirits from this or past lives that are connected to one through blood.  As our physical body grows older and we come closer to the physical death of the body, little by little the Spirits who have completed their mission become elevated, some are reborn into the physical world and others gravitate to their next mission.  The only spirit from our Cuadro Espiritual who accompanies you through the physical death of the body is your Principle Guide and or Angel de la Guarda, which are with you from the time of birth until the moment of death.  Often times as we pass through the veil between both realms, one is either guided by the Principle Guide or passes through the tunnel of light, seeing the Spirits that made up your Cuadro Espiritual, your ancestors and those who departed while you where alive, often times if the Guia Principal is not there to guide your spirit through the tunnel it will be at the other end of it, waiting for you with comforting open arms.

A major problem I have been noticing lately, and a trend that is growing big because of the Internet and lack of knowledge and common sense is, people revealing the names of the Spirits of their Cuadro to the public, this to all Hispanics who are a part of a Centro or Templo Espiritual know that this must never be done. (If you notice in my Blog the only names if any that I reveal are that of my Angel de la Guarda and my Patron Saint which are Spirits that are so highly elevated that they can not be easily persuaded to leave my side. This information can be used against you in so many negative ways.  This is one way of so many, to tell if one has been initiated, baptized or received any Puntos or ceremonies within Sance, Vudu, 21 Divisiones or Espiritismo.  A responsible Godparent will instruct you in many ways on how to protect your Cuadro, and strictly warn you on revealing the names of your Spirits to the world, which would be as dangerous as revealing the names of your loved ones to a hired hit man.

Por Cada Angel, hay un Demonio.

 (For every Angel there is a Demon)

Besides one’s Cuadro Espiritual we are all accompanied by an army of Dark Spirits, which are also known as our inner demons.  These spirits are earth bound entities that attach themselves to an individual, either by outside influence such as black magic and sorcery, or can be unconsciously picked up through a traumatic experience known as "un Susto or una Trauma" .  If not taken cared of in its early stages of development these dark spirits can perturb the person and seriously affect his or her spiritual development. causing  depression, anxieties, anger and frustration. 

Long term suffering from dark spirits can cause road blocks, obstacles, alcohol and substance abuse,  violent and suicidal tendencies, and many even resort to committing murder.  

The beginning stages of this affliction is what is termed in Puerto Rican Sanse and Espiritismo Criolla as "una Causa" hence why we say "tienes una causa."  A malignant spirit that causes problems and often begins with an individual suffering headaches, nervousness and uneasiness which in tern brings in the feeling as if the individual has a heavy weight on their chest and shoulders "un bajon" which in tern brings upon a radical change in behavior.  It is in the beginning stages that ones Cuadro Espiritual is working over time to help the individual as much as possibly allowed.  But if the individual does not seek spiritual, medical and or psychological help, as he/she succumbs to the dark spirits so will the link and bond to the Cuadro Espiritual suffer.  Often times the bond becomes so weak that within time the spiritual link between the individual and the Spirits that make up the Cuadro begins to wane and suffer, until finally leaving the individual weak, disorientated and prone to spiritual illnesses that can cause mental, emotional and physical problems. 

People often ask me.  If we are highly spiritual, what is the purpose for these inner demons.  My answer is simple.  One, to test our faith, strength and endurance; and two, one can not know good or understand goodness without experiencing, bad, wickedness or evil.

A well trained Sancistas and Espiritistas try to help the individual who suffers from bad spirits and inner demons by first trying to remove dark spirits, through ritual ceremonies such as rompimiento, desprendimiento and recogimiento.  But the individual is also advised to seak mental and physical help.  Espiritistas and Sancistas understand that the only way a person can truly be healthy, is through healing spiritually, mentally and physically.  In many cases the individual fails to ignore the importance of the healing process and the dark spirits returns and reattaches themselves to the person and perturbs them all over again.

Also there exists many individuals who wish to have the spiritual abilities that your Cuadro gives you.  Some of the major reasons is that an individual such as a Nigromante, Diablero or Muertero likes the way your Spirits work for you within Misas and Sesiones.  If the Spirits in your Cuadro are well cared for and attended, this process can be difficult but not impossible.  This is the reason one should not mount Spirits unattended or accompanied by a trusted godparent or spiritual family member, someone who will guard the physical and spiritual body, and why one never mounts Spirits in a room full of strangers, another Sociedad, Templo or Centro.  A Spirit from one's Cuadro Espiritual can also choose to leave of their own free will, one reason being is because the person who they guard does not attend his Spirits correctly, often ignoring them.  Those Spirits searching for light and elevation will then seek gravitate or cling to, those individuals who attend their Spirits in a correct manner.

It is impossible for an individual to know the names of all the Spirits within their Cuadro, and often time this is not important, what is important is that we recognize their presence, give them respect, light and clarity.

Each Spirit has an important function, some are healers, others messengers, while others open the doors for opportunities and close the doors to misfortunes.  They all work in unison in taking great care of the temple, the vessel which is your body that houses the Soul and Spirit.   Like the organs and cells within our body that work in unison to help the body grow, heal and live a long sound life, so it is the same with the Cuadro Espiritual.  To loose one Spirit from your Cuadro is to loose one's spiritual equilibrium, allowing for malignant forces to take over.  It is during moments of great sadness, suffering or depression that our spiritual body tells us that our Cuadro is week, or something is spiritually wrong, similar to that of a sneeze or a cough which is the way our bodies tell us that a cold or a fever is brewing within the body and our immune system is weak.  We must be strong, pray and pay homage to our Spirits, because it is at these moments when we are being tested spiritually, and many times we fail to understand that our Cuadro is working hard for us.   Many individuals turn to narcotics, prescription drugs or alcohol to ease the pain.  But these things fuel ones weakness, which in turn strengthens our inner demons.

A traumatic experience in life can be the cause as well, loosing a loved one, being physically or sexually assaulted, loosing a limb during an accident.  This can cause a Trauma which wrips through the very layers of our aura and within time and without proper healing can reach the core of the aura which in tern allows for those spirits that protect us and guide us to wane and allowing the strength of our inner demons to increase and take hold.  Once an individual looses one spirit from one's cuadro it is not impossible to have it return or replaced by another spirit that will take its place.  But in a society where we turn to drugs and alcohol as a solution, instead of prayer, hope and faith, this is easier said than done. 

The Cuadro teaches that strength, and endurance can only come through conquering and mastering our fears.   They teach through suffering only the strong will survive.  Every spiritual leader from the Buddha "Siddhārtha Gautama" to the Christ "Jesus of Nazareth" suffered and over came, and became stronger.  They teach through inner acceptance and true inner love of one self.  The love of one self that brings that inner joy that none can take away. 
The Spirits teach us to dance, to sing, to make love, and even to enjoy a glass or two of an alcohol beverage, but never let the Demons Greed and Sloth take over your body.  On another note, unlike your Cuadro that's names should not be revealed, the opposite is true about your inner demons.  Mine are a part of the Nation of Pride and Frustration.  I battle these two inner demons like no other on a daily basis.  "I am a proud person to the point sometimes I can come of as being a bit to proud, and I get frustrated very easily, especially when confronted or pushed.  These two together join forces and give birth to the inner demon Rage within me, and everyday I keep that inner demon in check and under control.  But all who know me, know that on a daily basis I battle them as Saint Michael battles Lucifer.  True acceptance of one's faults and weaknesses is the greatest of virtues.

The Cuadro Espiritual wants nothing more than for you to truly love yourself, truly know yourself, and except those things you must except and change those things that must be changed.

ANGEL DE LA GUARDA

While ones Angel de la Guarda are protectors and guardians that's mane function is to save our Spirit our very souls and protect us from evil both in the material and spiritual plane, our Guias Espirituales are responsible for our spiritual growth and development.  Also one needs to understand their origin.  Angel de la Guarda are highly elevated spirits that have never lived within human form, many cultures view them as gods or demi gods, and a capitol G as in for God is never used, and some call them the purest of Saints, or by other names such as Irunmole Archangels, Orisha, or Zemi.  They are celestial forces of the Cosmos, and each one is assigned by God to rule over an element or plane of existence within the Cosmos.  They are like our Spiritual mother or Spiritual father, and many of their attributes and qualities are often inherited into the person they guard. 

While the Angel de la Guarda are cosmic forces of pure light, the Spirit Guides are our dead, they are the Ancestral Souls of our blood line within this life or previous incarnations.  They have lived within the realm of the living in physical form at least once " often times they have lived multiple times", and some have reached a higher level of concioisness, while.others not so.  Some will be reborn into future earthly incarnations as they still must pass earthly tests of trials and tribulations, while others will elevate into another form of being.  They know and understand from first hand experience our weaknesses, our temptations, our sorrows, our fears, our desires, they know like no other our needs and wants. They know the trials we must face on the earthly world, and are ever present if we have faith in them, believe in them and call on them.  They are responsible for helping us in our spiritual growth, and speak to us through our inner voice and thoughts.  Their messages come to us through dreams or omens within nature, if we are knowledgeable enough to listen and understand what messages they are trying to convey.  They help us in the knowledge we seek in understanding those things that help us evolve spiritually.  Within the Sanse Tradition and Espiritismo Criolla(o) (folclorica) our dead are not far away in a remote place, they are near us, present when we call on them even through a single thought of them, they come. 

Our Spirit Guides are like a strong frame that protects the fragile photograph from the elements.  The stronger the frame, the stronger the protection granted, the more the photograph is protected from the harsh elements.  We are the fragile photograph, and they are the wood, the glass, the backing and the nails that surround and protect us.  The Photograph can only be as strong as its frame.

They are the mentors, the wise sages, the Counselors, that have learned through their past life incarnations the lessons needed for spiritual elevation and now are present with the goal of bestowing upon us these lessons. 

They come from many walks of life, so it is important within both Sanse and Espiritismo not to be a prejudice individual.  To be prejudice towards a race or a people is to be ignorant.  This ignorance can be very dangerous and departmental to our spiritual growth.  To offend a race, or a people is to spit on the names of your Spirit Guides, because they in life could have been an Indian Chief, an African slave, an Arabian Popper, an Egyptian stone mason, a Catholic Nun, a Pagan priestess or a poor fisherman.  Which brings the importance of Religious tolerance.  I was in Salem Witch Village with a Godson when a well known Wiccan priestess was telling a client that Jesus is Dead.  This frame of mentality that many Neo Pagans hold against Christianity and vise a versa, does not exist in Santeria, Umbanda, Sanse, Vodou, or any non Neo Pagan tradition.   (No we are not Neo or New Age anything, our ways are as old as time)  We respect all religions because we don't know if the very spirits that protect us may in life have been a Pagan Priestess or a Catholic Nun, and hear they are in Spirit form holding hands in unison to protect and guide us.  To offend a race, a belief or religious view is like one offending our very own loved ones or insulting that foundation that grounds the temple. 

"Many Neo Pagans hold to the thought, that Christians persecuted them for thousands of years.  Believe it or not, there was a time when Christianity was persecuted by the Pagans.  If we do not put a stop to this mentality, we are doomed to repeat history,  It is time we put this very ignorant (frame) of mind to rest and have respect and tolerance for the personal beliefs of all your neighbors.'

Some Spirit Guides can be the souls of departed family members or close friends, or as I have stated we may not have known them within this lifetime, but we have a spiritual link that connects us even though it was from previous life times.  They could be a wife, a mother or a teacher as much as they could have been a neighbor, a family doctor, a parish priest, a close friend or a tribal shaman.

We are all born with a custodial Guardian Angel who accompanies us through out our entire life.  With the exception of one's principle guide,  many of the Spirits within our Cuadro Espiritual will come and go, some stay with us until their mission has been completed, others move away from the lack of faith we have in their guidance.  Some are replaced by others, while others are not.  Some will gravitate to another individual because of the lack of respect or interest you show to them. 

The Spirits that make up your Cuadro Espiritual are our closest allies to Papa Buen Dios, they are the link that links us to the realm of Spirits.  They are dear and close friends to us, often closer or much closer than your living friends or family members , because they know the true intentions of your heart, soul and mind better than any living person could.   There is a Spanish saying.  "Caras vemos, corazones, no savemos." (Faces we see, hearts "intentions", we do not know.). Our Cuadro can not be fooled in this way.  They know us inside out.

Our Cuadro are affectionate, attentive, concerned about our spiritual, mental and physical growth,  and always want what is best for us.

They do not judge us harshly, even during those days when we make mistakes, or do not follow their sound advice.   They like no other understand that it is essential for us to make mistakes, so that we may learn valuable lessons.  They know that through true suffering, the Spirit is tested and the Soul flourishes. 

THE CUADRO ESPIRITUAL

EL CENTINELA:  At the forefront of one's Cuadro is the Centinela which is that Spirit that is closest to you in terms of Spiritual protection.  The Centinela’s function is to protect you from psychic warefare, psychic attacks, black magic, crossed conditions, hexes, curses, the evil eye and to make sure you develop within this life.   The Centinela is your spiritual shield, safeguard and life guard. The Centinela has no physical representation, although we in Sanse use a photo or an image of Saint Sebastian, Saint Pancracio or Faith, Hope and Charity to represent our Centinela.  The Centinela is with you from the first moment an evil eye is placed on you, and is with you until you reach old age or death.  The Centinela rarely if ever mounts a medium’s body in a crowded room, its function is to safeguard your physical and spiritual body.  But if they do, it is for observance, of the physical mediums body.   A Centinela identity as with many spirits of your Cuadro Espiritual should never be revealed to the public and the name of one’s Centinela can only be given through an Investigation.   When the Centinela mounts, it mounts as a wise and benevolent Spirit, and although it rarely mounts in public it does posses the body with messages of hope, wisdom, prudence and with divine intervention.  The Centinela is that Spirit that is the ground keeper, the overseer.  They rarely mount in Sesiones or Misas, they come speaking through times of quiet meditation, contemplation and prayer, they are the voice of ones Higher Self.    The only people who know your Centinela’s identity is yourself and the Espiritista or Sancista who preformed the investigation and whispers quietly into your ear, the Centinela's name.  Many people say the name or identity comes to them through dreams, which is rare, often impossible and is often confused with one’s Guardian Angel, Patron Saint or Principle Guide. The Centinela does not, and if so rarely represent an earthly culture or religion, the Centinela is not a part of a group of Spirits such as are the Madamas, the Gitanas, the Congos the Piratas or Indios although in life it could have been one but they are a part of Division of Spirits known as Los Centinelas.  The Centinela is beyond earthly physical representations, and are above the Comiciones and Sanses but a bit below the Misterios.   

GUIA PRINCIPAL:  Of all your Spirits in the Cuadro Espiritual, your Guia Principal is the one that is with you from the moment of birth until the moment of death.  While many spirits from one’s Cuadro Espiritual have a certain mission to complete and once completed they move on or become attached to another incarnate spirit, your Guia Principal is always with you.   Your Guia Principal is the Jefe of your Cuadro, asigning missions and over seeing other spirits within your Cuadro.

ANGEL DE LA GUARDA:  The Guardian Angel is that Celestial Being that protects you through out your lifespan.  They are primordial beings of pure light, and have never lived in human form.  They guard and protect you from evil forces, demonic forces and inner demons.  Unlike a Misterio that's aspect can change as one grows or does not grow in life, the Angel de la Guarda is the same during life.  The Angel de la Guarda is like a Spiritual parental figure, and has never walked or lived in human form.  They are the most ancient of beings and although there are many levels of Angels some being further from human affairs than others, the Angel de la Guarda is the closest of the Pure Energy Spirits of Light that watch over human affairs.  Although they can be seen through human eyes as male or female, and can be seen to represent catecoristics of human qualities, it is we as humans that give them earthly representations, for they are far beyond human comprehension.

PATRONALES:  The Patron Saint, can be male or female.  It  can be a Saint from any religion, Catholic, Hinduism, or Buddism to name a few. Traditionally the Patron Saint was determined through the day an individual was born.  In Sanse we have a male and or a female. Male "Patron" Female "Matrona". Like the Angel de la Guarda they are parental figures who guard and protect us, the names of these Patronales are determined through an oracle or through the investigacion or alinacion de cuadro.  Also an individual can inherit a loved ones Patron Saints.  When my grandfather passed I inherited his Patron Saint, Martin De Porres, a beautiful chalk ware plaster statue that has been in the family since the mid 1960s, while a client of mine inherited her mothers Santa Barbara when her mother passed.  This is not uncommon in Puerto Rican beliefs and practices as the Atributos of Saints and Spirits can be left to a trusted family member at time of death.

SANSES: The Sanse also known in Espiritismo as Los Emisarios, Embajadores, En Corrientes, or los Sanses, are the Spirits of people who in life where Servidores "Servitors" of the Loases, Orishas, Zemi, or Nsambis.  They where paleros, espiritistas, brujos, santiguadores,  curanderos, yerberos or santeros, who often mimick the Misterio they represent with their own unique earthly qualities.   Often time they will come baring the name of the Misterio they represent and are viewed as the Messengers of the Misterios.

ANTEPASADOS:  The Antepasados are the spirits of ones ancestors.  One never truly knows where ones blood lineage is from and the Ancestors can come from various cultures.  They are very protective and carry us upon their shoulders and we walk the paths they once walked and breath the air they once breathed.

DIFUNTOS:  The Difuntos or ones Muertos are those spirits of loved ones that a person knew in life, such as grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles, close friends and other relatives.  If the Spirit died a natural death they are often prayed to on ancestral shrines.  The Spirits of those who committed suicide, where murderers or rapists are never venerated on the shrine but prayed to so that they may receive forgiveness and light. 

MISTERIOS:  The Misterios are the highly elevated Spirits that within the Sanse tradition can be Loases, Orishas, Angels, Archangels Zemi, Saints, deities.and other Spirits. They often represent or govern an element here on earth, such as Fire, Water, Earth, Metal, Wood, and Air.  While the Angeles are guardians and the keepers of the Cosmic Heavens.  Often times one is born protected and governed by a certain Misterio and latter in life another Misterio can take over the head or infuse with the Misterio that governs the head becoming as one.   This may sound confusing, hence why they are Misterios.   Unlike the Angel de la Guarda that has never walked in human form, most Misterios have lived in human form and are the ancient ancestors that are on their way to becoming Puro  Misterios, Beings of Pure Light.   Many Demonic Forces com 

COMISIONES:  The Comisiones are those spirits that share a spiritual bond and link to the person they protect.   They come from all walk of life and spiritual or religious beliefs.  They can have a spiritual link through blood lineage or past life incarnations.   They are healers, doctors, messengers, counselors, to name a few of their functions.  They represent a cultural group of people or race, and often enjoy the foods, music and traditions they enjoyed in life.   


Links of Espiritismo
The Centinela
The Piratas
La Madama
The Indios
The Ancestors
el Desarollo
Espiritismo Criolla