#7 potenencia africanas

[conjuremanj]

The Seven African Powers & Who They Really Are.

The Seven African Powers are a common spiritual force that people petition within Santeria but there is a common misconception that's been going around about who they are and how they function. If you visit any botanica (spiritual shop) you’ll find candles that look like the image above claiming to be 7 African Powers candle. Along with other spiritual supplies that claim the same thing.

Who are these powers is the question:

The image above shows a collection of seven different saints: Our Lady of Mercy, The Virgin of Regla, Our Lady of Charity of Cobre, Saint Barbara, Saint Joseph of Arimathea, Saint John the Baptist, and Jesus on the Cross in the center. Under each saint image is the name of one of the Orishas. The name Olofi is under the image of Jesus. The images of saint are linked together with a metal chain along with 7 of Ogun’s tools hanging from the bottom.

Because of the image to the right, most people mistakenly think that the Seven African Powers are the orishas: Elegua, Ogun, Orula, Chango, Oshun, Yemaya and Obatala. But how did this come about?

Who really are the Seven African Powers if they aren’t the Orishas? Can anyone work with the Seven African Powers or is it limited to initiates of Santeria practice only?

The Syncretization Of The Orishas:

With the individual Catholic saints isn’t that unusual but the grouping of these particular Orishas together is what makes it unique. Well Santerismo developed out of Puerto Rican Espiritismo (Spiritualism) blended with Orisha worship outside of a Lucumí practice. In Santerismo it is common for spiritualist mediums to become possessed by Catholic saints referring to themselves by the names of the Orishas. Santerismo took its roots in the Puerto Rican community in New York City in the 1950’s.

Santerismo is NOT Santeria:(Lucumí/Lukumi). Santerismo is a spiritualist tradition open to revelation while Santeria is an initiatory religion.

But the spiritualists in Santerismo didn’t understand the difference and they assumed they were the Orishas. The images of seven Catholic saints put together in a manner dedicated to the Seven African Powers but that didn’t come about until the 1970’s and 80’s and the Espiritismo tradition’s influences.

Who the Seven African Powers Really Are:

They are Spirit Guides they are spirits of the dead from the seven different African tribes that were brought to Cuba.

When a person speaks of the Seven African Powers they refer to a group of 7 different spirits, one from each of the following tribes: Yoruba, Congo, Takua, Kissi, Calabari, Arará, and Mandika. A person who has a connection with the Seven African Powers will have one spirit guide from each of these tribes unique to him. The importance of the drum as a tool to call down the Orishas.

The Seven African Powers are called upon for help with spiritual evolution, overcoming obstacles, and personal power. Anyone can petition the Seven African Powers as they are spirit guides and everyone, initiated or not, have access to spirits of the dead for their guidance. (They can be petitioned by lighting vigil candles that are of 7 colors, or using 7 different candles of different colors.) It is also traditional to tie strips of cloth or handkerchiefs of seven different colors in a bundle. By whirling this bundle of loose multicolored cloth in the air over your head, as you call the Seven African Powers and petition them for help. Can can also work with your own spirit guides as well.

[babywitch3047]

I was talking to some close people about the Seven African Powers. I got a strange feeling when they were talking about it. It was a little scary and I’ve never felt that way before. I would love to know more specifically about Orula. I was drawn to the yellow and green bracelet, which is Orula. I would love to know more. Feel free to comment or dm me.