Okra Baths to Break Evil Magic

In past postings I discussed the magical power of okra and how it can be used in protective work. Okra is also useful in breaking evil, curses and any kind of negativity. One of the best ways to do this is to make a magical bath with okra.

Okra baths are effective in a single application or you can do them regularly as part of a spiritual hygiene routine. Whenever I feel that someone has thrown some serious curses at me, or even reversed work back at me, I use an okra bath to shatter the curse or evil, and allow me to smoothly move through life slipping out of its grasp. It's important to note that if you are allergic to okra you should not be doing this bath.

How to Prepare a Magical Bath with Okra

Okra baths need to be made a bit in advance in order to get the most out of the herb. Okra emits a slimy juice, it's characteristic herbal property, that reacts with water to create a mucilage. This slippery, slimy juice is what breaks the evil magic and also allows you to slide under the radar and escape enemy attack.

You'll need:

• About 20 fresh okra pods
• A large basin
• Fresh water
• A sieve or strainer

Start by pouring about 2 cups of fresh water into the basin. Now begin manually breaking up the okra pods with your hands in the water. Try to rip them up into the smallest pieces you can. Use your hands and pray over the okra, asking that God shatter any evil that has been sent at you. Once you have broken up all of the pods with your hands, begin scooping them up in your hands and squeezing as much juice as you can out of them. Keep adding water, cup by cup taking time to squeeze the pods and extract their juice into the water between additions. Once you've filled the basin up with enough water for a magical bath set the basin aside to sit for about half an hour. (Use reason to figure this out - quantities are NOT specific here. All you need is enough to dump over your head and cover your body.)

After the bath has sit for about half an hour, being to scoop the bits of okra out of the fluid. Give them a good squeeze and place them into the strainer (holding the strainer over the basin - the mucilage will continue to drain out into the basin). Once you've gotten all of the okra bits out of the bath and you have a strainer full of the stuff, use your hand to press the last bits of juice out of the herbs, allowing it to fall into the bath. Then take the okra chunks and toss them in the garbage. All we need is the juice.

Stir the bath up well with your hands. As you do so, you'll note it's VERY slimy. This is precisely what we want.

Take your basin into the bathroom. Light two white candles and place them on either side of the tub or shower to that you will cross between them as you exit the tub (like a gateway of light). Disrobe and take the basin with you into the tub. Now begin by praying Psalm 37 "Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and whither as the green herb!" (or you can read the psalm in its entirety) If you don't like reading the psalms you can also just pray in your own words to your higher power for it to shatter the curses laid against you, wipe you clean of any evil and restore you to peace and grace.

Now, pour the bath over you from your head down to your feet. Yes it is slimy. Yes it feels weird. Yes it really works!

Make sure to cover EVERY part of your body with the bath. Then set the basin outside of the tub. You can then shower off the slime, making sure to get it all off. Once you are fully clean you can exit the shower passing between the two lit candles and towel dry. You can also pinch out the candles and reuse them for another bath, or if this is a one-off bath, just set them on a counter or your altar and let them burn down completely.

You should notice how good you feel IMMEDIATELY after the bath. Dress in clean light colored clothes and avoid getting agitated or angry for that day. Do something relaxing and keep your calm. If you have a protective oil or mojo bag you can wear, it's a good idea to use it after you've dried off from the bath.

**NOTE**

This is one example of a magical bath that is NOT left on the body to dry. While the slime has healing properties and IS very good for the skin, you don't want to keep it on your body. Additionally, this is a magical bath where you DO NOT capture your used bath water. Just let it run down the drain and rinse out the shower or tub after you are done.

A Powerful Uncrossing Spell to Remove Spirits

The term "uncrossing" comes from the magical concept of cursing called "crossing." To cross someone up means to obstruct their life with misfortune. The name comes from the idea of laying down equal-armed crosses of powders or other objects where the target will walk through them. Uncrossing, therefore, is the process of breaking through a curse, cleaning it off of a person and restoring them to balance and spiritual health.

Typically, uncrossing spells center around the use of Uncrossing Baths usually prescribed to someone in 3, 7, 9 or 13 baths depending on how severe the curse is. This is a standard and effective way to cleanse the physical body if powdered were used against someone or if the curse is afflicting the person's health with symptoms like itching, welts, lack of energy, sickness, etc. In addition to Uncrossing Baths, it's usually a good idea to do an Uncrossing Candle Spell to deal with recurring curses timed to hit the target over and over, month after month. After any uncrossing spell it's also a good idea to immediately apply some kind of protection to keep yourself clean. Something as simple as a Protection Mojo Bag or dressing your body with Fiery Protection Oil are effective ways to keep the jinxes at bay. This standard course of magical treatment is so common that I've made up an Uncrossing Spell Kit for people who need to uncross themselves and keep themselves protected afterward.

On rare occasion, you need something a bit unexpected as a way of Uncrossing yourself. The Uncrossing Spells I present below are my own unique spells, work powerfully and are good spells to do if something like an Uncrossing Spell Kit isn't enough to break through the curse.

A Powerful Uncrossing Spell to Remove Spirits

Some craftier conjurers will use spirits of the dead to haunt their targets. The afflicted target is haunted day and night with tortured nightmares, spiritual phenomena happening around them with no logical explanation, and a perpetual feeling of being followed. The spirit is paid for the work they do on behalf of the conjurer, so part of the uncrossing has to be either a higher payment, or a complete eradication of the spirit tying it down into the bowels of hell so that it will not continue to torture the person any longer.

You'll need:

• Graveyard Dirt of a Soldier (purchased in the proper manner)
• A jumbo double-action candle
• A pointy tool to carve the candle
• 1 bottle of Uncrossing Oil
• Seven 13-Herb baths
• Seven Protection Herb Baths
• 1 glass bottle with a twist top
• black cloth (sufficient to cover the glass bottle)
• Blackberry leaves and branches
• Whiskey
• 9 pins
• 9 needles
• 9 coffin nails
• Frankincense and Myrrh incense
• a cigar
• gunpowder
• A prepared Protection Mojo Bag with its bottle of Fiery Protection Oil
• A bundle of fresh herbs including pine, fern, sage, lemon verbena and mint tied together

Preparation

First, prepare the bottle by putting the blackberry leaves and branches inside of it in a tangled mess. These will trap the evil spirit when it enters the bottle. Add the pins, needles and coffin nails to the bottle. Finally add some whiskey to the bottle to fill it 1/3 full. These "spirits" will draw the ghost into the bottle as alcohol feeds the spirit.

Next prepare the candle. Cut the tip off of the candle and carve a new one out of the foot of the candle (dig out the wick). You'll essentially be burning it upside-down. On the black part of the candle carve "wicked spirit be gone!" in mirrored writing. On the white side of the candle carve "Blessed and protected by God". Rub Uncrossing Oil on the candle stroking away from you on the black part, and toward you on the white part. Set this in a candle holder and set it aside.

The next part should be done outside. Set the bottle on the ground (preferably a paved surface) and stand the client facing away from the bottle about 5 feet away. Lay down a spiral of the purchased graveyard dirt around the client and extend the end of the spiral so it heads toward the bottle and encircles it. On top of this line of graveyard dirt, lay down a line of gunpowder. Once you have dislodged the spirit from the client the gunpowder acts to fire up the spirit of the soldier to grab that negative spirit and take him away from the client and into the bottle where it will be trapped.

Dislodging the Spirit from the Client

Before you begin to mess with the client, start by protecting yourself. You should have both feet, both hands, your forehead, heart, navel, and the back of your neck anointed with Fiery Protection Oil. Additionally, I recommend you summon all of your own protective entities and spirits to help you out. Finally, make sure you are wearing white or similarly light colored clothes to make sure you are well protected. If you have a Protection Mojo Bag, carry it.

Now that everything is set up, you're ready to start. Begin by lighting the cigar and making sure you have a nice burning ember at the end. Flip the cigar around and put the lit end into your mouth and blow out through the cigar to propel smoke out of it toward your client. Use the smoke to coax the spirit that is attacking them to come forward. Then, grab the bundle of herbs blow some cigar smoke onto it and pray either Psalm 51 (below) or The Lord's Prayer:

Psalm 51

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Now, slowly turn the client and lightly whack their body with the bundle of herbs. As you do so, command the spirit to leave that person's body and to leave them alone in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Start at their head, and work your way down toward the feet. (Make sure you do not disrupt the spiral of graveyard dirt and gunpowder.) Once you have reached the feet, move over to the bottle and blow some cigar smoke into the bottle and around it to coax the spirit to move toward the bottle. Now addressing the spirit directly, state that you have created a new home for it, one where it can enjoy good drink and a good smoke - over in yonder bottle.

Capturing the Spirit

Now, praying the Lord's Prayer over and over again, take the cigar and light the gunpowder closest to the client so that the burn will spiral out and away from him toward the bottle, propelling the spirit to leave the body and enter into the bottle. Shoo it along with the bundle of herbs as the sparking flame moves along. When the gunpowder finishes burning around the bottle quickly cap the bottle and state aloud "Spirit I have trapped you in the tangled mess in this bottle. Never more will you be able to escape this bottle and never again will you trouble another soul! In Jesus' name AMEN!" Wrap the bottle in black cloth and tie the opposite corners tightly over the top of the bottle so that it will never see the light of day again.

Protecting the Client

Now, smoke the client with Frankincense and Myrrh, to lighten their energetic field and build up their natural defenses against any other spirits. Hand them a Protection Mojo Bag to carry. Dab a bit of Fiery Protection Oil on their wrists, forehead, heart, bottom of the feet and back of the neck. Hand the client the candle and tell them to go home and light it and let it burn all the way down. Also send them home with 7 Protection Herb Baths - for them to use over the course of the next week. Send them home.

Getting Rid of the Spirit

Next, visit either the ocean or a river that flows out of town. Throw the bottle into the ocean off the end of a pier or into the river saying "I banish you to the abyss! Return to the hell from whence you came! In Jesus' name AMEN!" Walk away and don't look back. Return home by a different route than the normal one you take.

Clean Up

Finally, you need to clean yourself up. You can mop down the area where the ritual took place with Chinese Floor Wash or Florida Water to remove the graveyard dirt and gunpowder. You'll then take seven 13-Herb Baths over the course of the next week. Each day you should visit your ancestor altar and pray to your spirits and ancestors for them to be strong and protect you. Keep a candle lit on that altar throughout the week. When you take your baths make sure to toss out the used bathwater toward the east over your left shoulder (preferably into the street) and walk away without looking back. Wear your Protection Mojo Bag the entire week and dress your body with Fiery Protection Oil every day.

Warning: This is NOT to be performed by the casual rootworker. This is serious, intense work and it puts you in great physical and psychic risk to mess with taking spirits off of people. Only an experienced rootworker with solid spiritual relationships with his spirits should engage in such work. I can perform this work as part of a Spiritual Cleansing of your Body but prices vary greatly according to the risk level involved. Contact me for pricing and more information.

We will be closed Friday July 23 - Monday July 26

Dr. E. Products will be closed for Summer Vacation, Friday July 23, 2010 through Monday July 26, 2010. We will reopen on Tuesday July 27, 2010. Thank you for your patience!

Animal Curios in Hoodoo

One of the hallmarks of hoodoo spells is the use of more than just herbs in magical workings. Rootworkers will often couple together roots, herbs, minerals and zoological curios (animal parts) for maximum power in their spells. If you ever get a mojo bag and it has more than just plant material in it, then you can pretty much bet it was made by a genuine rootworker. I normally make a point of including some kind of animal curio in my 13-Item Custom Mojo Bags.

Animal curios are usually something very rare or difficult to get your hands on. Their rarity is what lends them such power. Of course, the magical attributes associated with each curio is often reflective of the Doctrine of Signatures - a philosophy used by many herbalists that attributes powers to curios according to what they look like. Consequently, animal hands or feet were good for luck with anything you laid your hands on. Animal genital parts were for love or virility, etc. Here is a list of some of the more typical animal curios a rootworker would use in their work - particularly in the construction of mojo bags.

Raccoon Penis Bone - "Coon Dong"

Raccoons have bones inside of their penises. These bones can be extracted from dead raccoons, cleaned and used in mojo bags for love, sexual prowess or even for luck - especially in gambling luck.

It is said that you can tie a red string around a raccoon penis bone making it into a necklace and give it to a girl you like in order to make her fall in love with you and stay in love with you. Dress the coon dong with Love me NOW! Oil for added power first!

Alligator Foot

A gator foot is a great curio to include in any gambling mojo bag. As it resembles a hand, it would be particularly good with dice gambling or craps. You can add it to a mojo bag or just carry it on its own - like a keychain.

One particularly good gambling luck mojo bag takes a silver dime and puts it in the grasp of an alligator foot. Try to use a silver dime that was minted in a leap year. Put that into a green flannel bag along with a lucky hand root, and a pinch of five-finger grass. Dress this with Lucky 777 Oil and carry it on you when you're playing craps or just having a friendly game of dice with your friends.

Lucky Rabbit's Foot

This is one of the most classic and universally known hoodoo animal curios; the rabbit's foot. Again, being a paw, it is considered good luck with games of chance where you manipulate the item with your hands: dice, cards, etc.

A rabbit's foot can be placed in a flannel bag and carried as a gambling luck mojo, but it is more typically made into a keychain and carried in that manner. Traditionally, a rabbit's foot is dressed with Van Van Oil for fortunate out comes and luck with money and love. Rub your lucky rabbit's foot before shooting dice or playing cards but keep it out of sight as with any luck item. You don't want people to know you have an advantage over them.

Cowrie Shell

A cowrie shell is the home of a little aquatic snail that lives in the ocean. The shell itself resembles a vagina, and as such, can be used in any spell dealing with female sexuality, or by women looking to attract others.

A great mojo bag for women to draw men as sexual partners can be made by obtaining a cowrie shell, dressing it with some of her vaginal fluids, and placing it in a red mojo bag along with queen elizabeth root and cubeb berries. Dress this bag with Hot Fucker Oil and carry it on you either tucked into your panties or into your bra and watch the men come running your way!

Badger Tooth

Here we have a unique animal curio that came into hoodoo from European tradition. Badger's teeth are used in gambling luck work. You can include one in a mojo bag or even wear it as a necklace or a charm off of a watch or bracelet.

Another good gambling mojo bag would consist of a green flannel bag with a badger's tooth inside, along with a pair of dice that were used in a winning run, a piece of pyrite, devil's shoestrings, a whole nutmeg, alfalfa and marigold petals. Dress this with Fast Luck Oil or whiskey right before gambling and make sure to rub your hands with the bag before you play your game of choice.

Spells to Overcome Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

Substance abuse and addiction have become a very common thing in this bad economy. Many people are turning to drugs and alcohol to escape the reality of life's pressures. For some this is a very serious situation that quickly becomes an issue of addiction and dependency. While ultimately the best treatment for such conditions is professional help, a rehab facility or a recovery program like Alcoholics Anonymous, these individuals can also be helped on a spiritual level to keep them strong and focused on their sobriety. Below I present a few spells that you can do to help conquer alcoholism, drug addiction and other addictive behaviors. (Again, these are NOT a substitution for professional help - please contact a local chapter of A.A., N.A. or speak to your doctor for assistance.)

Novenas for Strength in Recovery
Because you can't "make" someone be sober, the battle to conquer addictions is ultimately a solo, uphill struggle. You can't perform a controlling spell to make someone stop smoking, drinking or taking drugs - but you can give them the spiritual assistance they need to make the right choices when they are at a crossroads in their recovery. A great way to do this is with continual and focused prayer to specific Catholic saints. Here are two novenas that I've had good results.

Novena to Saint Martin of Tours (San Martin Caballero)
Saint Martin is often considered the patron saint of alcoholics or reformed alcoholics as well as those who are destitute and needing help. He is typically depicted (to the right) on horseback offering his cloak to a beggar below him. He is called upon for his assistance in desperate times and to help make the right decisions in recovery. His feast day is November 11.

You'll need:

• A white glass-encased vigil candle
• An image of Saint Martin of Tours (you can print one from the internet)
• Glue
• Blessing Oil
• A photo of the addicted person
• a ceramic saucer or plate

Wipe down the glass-encased candle with some ammonia or Florida Water to clean it of any residue. Using a very thin, light coating of glue, adhere the image of Saint Martin of Tours to the glass. Poke three holes down into the wax from the top using a skewer or other pointed tool. Drip one drop of Blessing Oil in each hole. Place the photo of the addicted individual under the saucer. Hold the candle to your heart and pray with all your heart for the recovery and sobriety of the addicted person, calling their full name aloud. Then hold the candle up to the heavens and pray to God and Saint Martin of Tours to rescue this person in need, assist them in their most desperate time and help them cleanse their life of this addiction. Tap the candle on the table three times to lock in your intention then place it on top of the saucer so that as the candle burns it will bring light to the person whose photo is under it. Light the candle.

Now for the next nine days you'll pray the following:

1. One recitation of The Lord's Prayer (Our Father)
2. 10 recitations of the Hail Mary
3. One recitation of the Glory Be
4. One recitation of The Prayer of Saint Martin of Tours:

Prayer of Saint Martin of Tours:

Dear well-beloved Saint, you were first a soldier like your father.
Converted to the Church, you became a soldier of Christ, a priest and then a Bishop of Tours. Lover of the poor, and model for pagans and Christians alike, protect our soldiers at all times. Make them strong, just, and charitable, always aiming at establishing peace on earth. Amen.

Every day you'll return to the candle and pray the above prayers. Your candle will extinguish before the 9 days are up, but continue to pray over the glass. You can, optionally, just prepare a second candle and light it off of the first one when you know that it's going to burn out soon. Those two candles will burn for a cumulative time of about 10-11 days.

Novena to the Venerable Matt Talbot

Matt Talbot is a very powerful spirit to call upon when battling alcoholism. While he is not yet a saint he is one step away from being canonized by the Catholic Church. I've had tremendous success with calling upon the assistance of the Venerable Matt Talbot on the behalf of those battling the addiction.

Matt Talbot began working at the age of 12 at a wine bottling facility and that was when his drinking began. He was a severe alcoholic his entire life and at the age of 28 he went to confession and pledged an oath to not drink for three months. A year later he renewed his pledge and never touched alcohol again for the rest of his life (41 years). He dedicated his life to prayer, daily mass and penitence. He died in 1925 of a severe heart attack and news of his holiness spread quickly. A formal decree of his virtues was on October 3, 1975.

Similar to the novena to Saint Martin of Tours, a novena can be prayed to the Venerable Matt Talbot for assistance in overcoming alcoholism. Here's a great working you can do to help your loved ones who are battling the disease.

You'll need:

• a blue glass-encased vigil candle
• an icon of the Venerable Matt Talbot (Seen to the right)
• glue
• a bottle of Holy Oil
• a packet of Evil BEGONE! Powder
• a photo of the person struggling with alcoholism
• a saucer or plate

First clean the candle by wiping down the glass with some ammonia or Florida Water to remove any residue. Then using a very thin, light layer of glue, stick the image of the icon on the front of the glass-encased candle. Poke three holes down into the wax from the top of the candle and into each hole drip one drop of Holy Oil. Put a little pinch of Evil BEGONE! Powder in the top of the candle, and set it aside.

Taking the person's photo, put a pinch of Evil BEGONE! Powder over their face. Then fold the photo in half away from you. Turn it one-quarter turn counter-clockwise and fold it in half away from you again. Repeat this one last time for a total of three folds. Place the folded photo under the plate. Holding the candle to your heart, pray with all your might for the person who is battling alcoholism. Call out to the Venerable Matt Talbot to help this person overcome the demons he faces and for his mind to be illuminated and his heart to be strong in the face of adversity. Hold the candle up toward the heavens and ask God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit to bless your prayer and make it happen. Then tap the candle three times on your table to seal in the prayer, and place it on top of the plate. Light the candle.

Now for the next nine days you'll pray the following:

1. One recitation of The Lord's Prayer (Our Father)
2. 10 recitations of the Hail Mary
3. One recitation of the Glory Be
4. On recitation of the Prayer for the Addicted (below)
5. One recitation of The Prayer for the canonization of Venerable Matt Talbot (below)

Prayer for the Addicted:

God of mercy, we bless You in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who ministered to all who come to Him. Give Your strength to N., Your servant, bound by the chains of addiction. Enfold him/her in Your love and restore him/her to the freedom of God's children. Lord, look with compassion on all those who have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of Your unfailing mercy, and strengthen them in the work of recovery. To those who care for them, grant patient understanding and a love that perseveres. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the canonization of Venerable Matt Talbot:

Lord, in your servant, Matt Talbot you have given us a wonderful example of triumph over addiction, of devotion to duty, and of lifelong reverence of the Holy Sacrament. May his life of prayer and penance give us courage to take up our crosses and follow in the footsteps of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Father, if it be your will that your beloved servant should be glorified by your Church, make known by your heavenly favours the power he enjoys in your sight. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Again, your candle will not last the full 9 days. You can prepare a second one and light it off of the first one, or simple use only one candle and continue your prayers even though the light is not lit. At the end of the working, take the folded photo of the person battling addiction and deposit it at a church door to bring that person to God. You can also put a pinch of Evil BEGONE! Powder in the person's hat or shoes to help them overcome their addiction beyond the work of the novena.

Interview with Óchá'ni Lele - Author of Teachings of the Santería Gods

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Óchá'ni Lele, the author of the soon-to-be published book Teachings of the Santería Gods: The Spirit of the Odu, to learn a bit more about his book, his perspective on spiritual topics and what wisdom the Santería Gods can teach us.

Dr. E.: First, I’d like to thank you for taking time to stop by my blog and chat with my readers. You’ve written a book titled Teachings of the Santería Gods, forthcoming by Destiny Books (an imprint of Inner Traditions International). It is a collection of short stories based on the ancient Lucumí and Yoruba myths, and they are paired with the root odu of the diloggún. What inspired you to write this book?

Ócháni: Dr. E., I’d like to thank you for hosting me on my virtual blog tour! When I first found this religion one of the things that intrigued me were the stories, the sacred myths known as patakís. They were vibrant, powerful, filled with drama and intrigue. I’d always loved mythology and folktales. I grew up reading about Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology, and when I was quite young I remember hiding in my bed with a flashlight (so my parents wouldn’t know I was up) reading the original tales from the Brothers Grimm. But these were stories from ancient times that had no connection with the present. The people who knew the Grimm tales were long dead, and the civilizations that worshipped the Greek, Roman, and Egyptian gods stood in ruins. The orishas, however, were alive and well; and their worshippers had an unbroken chain to an ancient past. I was amazed.

While other aleyos and aborishas were asking their godparents, “What ebós does Oshún like? What is Oshún like? Tell me how many roads Obatalá has?” I was asking my godparents (and any priest who would talk to me), “Why doesn’t Obatalá like palm oil? Why doesn’t Obatalá like liquor? Is there a patakís for that?” Sometimes they would look at me like I was crazy, but sometimes I would actually be told a story. I found that through those brief stories I learned more about the nature of the orisha than any amount of pompous dialogue could teach. And when I learned that almost each and every patakís was paired with an odu in the diloggún . . . well . . . that deepened my understanding of those patterns as well.

But knowledge of these ancient stories is severely lacking in this faith among both initiates and laity. Storytelling seems to be a dying art, and people are starved for this knowledge. I believe that if we don’t start writing down the stories we know about the orishas, the odu, and the people who lived and died following the orishas, one day these things will be lost. The death of each elder priest or priestess represents the destruction of an entire folkloric library that simply cannot be rebuilt if these stories are not shared.

Dr. E.: Which brings me to this: How did you do the research for your book?

Ócháni: Research for this book has been a lifelong process. It began with my first reading at a very small botanica in Miami, Florida, in 1989. The santero who read me that day preferred to recite patakís and let his client draw his own conclusions. I made copious notes of every session, and I must have taken the greyhound bus to Miami at least once every two months for a year and a half to be read – not because I needed to be read that much, but because I needed to learn and record the stories he told. Along the way I picked up a few poorly written Spanish pamphlets in the botanicas that spoke of the odu and gave a few poorly written patakís to go with the signs that were discussed.

With the opening of the internet to the public in the mid 90s came the various newsgroups and chat rooms dedicated to the religion. I made a lot of virtual friendships during those days, and I would spend hours online with various priests and priestesses discussing the myths and stories of this religion. Some of those became real-life friendships, and we traded notes copiously. But I think my greatest resource has been my own godfather. When we first met we spent hours discussing the orishas, the odu, and the patakís that spoke of both. We still do. I don’t think he realizes how much he has taught me since we first met online back in 2000 (or maybe it was 1999?). He is a living, breathing folkloric library.

Also, every time I work the religion, whether I’m divining in my home with other priests present, or if I’m working an ocha in someone’s house, or even if I’m doing ceremonies for my own godchildren (with either my godfather or grandfather in ocha working as the oriaté), each ceremony becomes a chance to not only ask questions and learn, but also to listen to the conversations of others and learn. Every single person in this faith has some knowledge, and when we come together and share we weave this wonderful tapestry of wisdom. I think, by working the religion, I have learned more than any applied study or research I’ve done.

Dr. E.: From what I’ve gleaned in reading your book, odu is a vast and rich volume of information. What tips do you have for someone starting to learn the meanings of each odu?

Ócháni: First, while it’s been said over and over again that one cannot learn anything of value in this religion by reading a book, I have to argue that those times are changing. They changed in the year 2000 when I published The Secrets of Afro-Cuban Divination – How to Cast the Diloggún, the Oracle of the Orishas. My book was the first one in English to speak in any depth of this oracular system; and since that book was published, I’ve tried to find other books in Spanish prior to my volume’s publication that give significant information regarding the mechanics of the diloggún as an oracle. There were a few feeble attempts in Spanish, but nothing that gives complete, working directions for using the diloggún as a system of divination. Nothing!

So for someone wanting to learn the basics of how to cast the diloggún, I would start with that book. It is a step-by-step guide to the process of divination. It shows the apprentice diviner how to properly manage the more heated signs of the diloggún; and, it gives detailed directions for closing the session and the odu so osogbo is not left behind in the diviner’s home. It is how I read; it is how my godfather reads, and it is how most responsible diviners read.

For a more in depth study of the diloggún and its odu, I’d recommend that students follow up with my volume The Diloggún: the Orishas, Proverbs, Sacrifices, and Prohibitions of Cuban Santería. It takes the novice diviner into a higher level of skill with the opening and closing manipulations of the oracle, and it gives more in depth knowledge of the root odu and their accompanying composites. If a student can master the material in both books, that person is ready to be a diviner in my opinion.

Beyond those two books, work a lot of initiations and attend itá, no matter how boring one might think that is. An itá is a life-reading of the iyawó just crowned, and oriatés tend to explore the odu very deeply during those sessions. They have to. During itá, an oriaté might be surrounded by dozens of priests, each with their own knowledge of the letters that have fallen, and an oriaté’s reputation at that point is balanced on his knowledge of the odu that have fallen. So it is at itá that the deeper secrets of the odu are revealed; and it is there that one learns the most.

Dr. E.: Which of the patakís in your book is your favorite and why?

Ócháni: It is difficult for me to pick one – so I’ll have to pick two stories. My second favorite is the story titled “The Story of Elegede.” Unraveling that patakís took a lot of work, and I detail that process in chapter six of my book: Obara – Six Mouths on the Mat. After the manuscript was edited and finalized for publication, my godfather taught me a second version of that patakís, and towards the fall I might offer that second version on my blog at http://ochanilele.lit.org/wordpress.

My most favorite story in the entire book is titled “Eshu at the Crossroads.” It is in chapter 11 of my book: Owani – Eleven Mouths on the Mat. Eshu has always been a problematic character in this religion, and with good reason. Of all the stories I’ve been told about Eshu (as opposed to Elegguá), I think this one best illustrates his nature.

Dr. E.: When is your book available for purchase and where should we get it?

Ócháni: There are two places online where it may be purchased:

http://www.innertraditions.com
http://www.amazon.com

Amazon buys in bulk and gets the best deals because of that, so if you’re looking for a bargain price check there.

Also, my book was scheduled for release on August 15, 2010, but it looks like it will be available on July 7, 2010. So if you preorder expect your copy a bit early.

And, as always, because I deal with a traditional brick-and-mortar publisher, this book will be available anywhere books are sold! Just walk into your neighborhood bookstore and ask for it. If they don’t have it, they can get it.

Dr. E.: Thank you so much for stopping by to speak with us.

Ócháni: Thank you for having me. If any of your readers have questions, I’ll be sticking around for about a week to field questions from them. So tell them to not be shy!

Dr. E.: Again, for my readers, that was Ócháni Lele, the author of quite a few books on Afro-Cuban folklore and spirituality. His latest book is titled Teachings of the Santería Gods, published by Destiny Books (an imprint of Inner Traditions International). It is available online from either his publisher’s website or amazon.com. The work is incredible; he is an amazing storyteller, and I encourage everyone who loves mythology, magick, or even a good story to pick up a copy of his book.