What is a paleros?

For anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars, Palo priests, called Paleros, serve as consultants to dead spirits, who they believe have the power to do almost anything the Paleros bid them to do. For quick results, Paleros use human bones and skulls to call upon the spirits represented by them.

What is nganga Palo?

Central to Palo is the nganga or prenda, an iron cauldron into which human bones, sticks, and other items are placed. This is believed to be inhabited by the spirit of a dead individual, who becomes the slave of the palero or palera. The nganga is “fed” with the blood of sacrificed male animals.

What’s the difference between Palo and Santeria?

Palo is almost always linked to Santeria. And ritual music and dance is fundamental to both. There is one main distinction: Santeria comes from the Yoruba people from Nigeria and Palo Mayombe comes from the Congo. “Palo songs have some Congolese words in them, but mixed with a lot of Spanish.

What is Palo muerto?

PALO MUERTO (IMPOMOEA MURUCOIDES) Has been traditionally used to combat paralysis. Take 1 tsp. per cup.

What does OCHA mean in Santeria?

Ocha (Kariocha, making Santo): The initiation of a new priest or priestess where his/her tutelary Orisha is put on his/her head (crown) during a seven-day ceremony.

What does an Nganga do?

Nganga is a Kikongo language term for herbalist or spiritual healer in many African societies and also in many societies of the African diaspora such as those in Haiti, Brazil, and Cuba.

How do you make Nganga?

In order to establish a relationship with the dead, practitioners go to a cemetery, find an abandoned grave and seal a pact with the spirit of the deceased person buried there. They then dig up his remains, bring them to their domestic temple, and put them into a cauldron, the nganga.

What is an Nganga cauldron?

In Cuba, the term nganga refers to a certain creation made with an iron cauldron into which several items (such as bones and sticks) are placed. It also refers to the spirit of the dead that resides there. In Palo, it refers to an iron cauldron used to venerate the mpungo which can be used for magic and divination.

What does Crown mean in Santeria?

On February 2nd, I went through a ceremony called ocha/regla de ocha/kariocha/crowning. Here’s what it means: Ocha (Kariocha, making Santo): The initiation of a new priest or priestess where his/her tutelary Orisha is put on his/her head (crown) during a seven-day ceremony.

Why are cigars used in Santeria?

A: For Cuban worshippers, Afro-Cuban religions here such as Santeria, Palomonte and others, the smoke of the cigar is like purifying water in the Bible. Christians use water for the baptism, but Afro-Caribbean religions in Cuba use smoke as well.