Book on Palo [Palo Monte – as practiced at Guanabacoa, a suburb of Havana (p. 1)] [originally from Angola (p. 3)] {this is apparently from northern Angola, inasmuch as Umbanda is praevalent instead amongst the Ambanda of southern Angola}
chapters
# |
title |
pp. |
1st |
What is Palo Monte? |
3-15 |
2nd |
Making C^amba |
25-8 |
4th |
Making a Cauldron |
35-43 |
5th |
Deities |
45-69 |
7th |
Spells & Firmas |
77-94 |
8th |
Baths, Spells, Works |
95-109 |
9th |
Prayers |
111-25 |
10th |
Vocabulary |
127-43 |
p. 1 the 4 branches of Palo
Briyumba, Monte, Mayombe, Kimbisa |
pp. 12-13 Spanish versions of Palo-Monte deity-names; Yoruba deity-names sometimes used in substitute of them
p. |
Palo-Monte |
Spanish |
Yoruba |
12 |
nkisi-s |
oris^a-s |
|
Nsambi Mpungu |
Olodumare |
||
Nkuyo |
Lucero (‘Light-maker’) |
Es^u / Elegbara |
|
Mama Kenge |
Tiembla-Tierra (‘Earthquake’) |
Os^anla` |
|
Nsasi |
Siete Rayos (‘7 Rays’) |
S^ano` |
|
Kalunga / Balaunde |
Madre de Agua (‘Mother of Water’) |
Yemaya` |
|
Mama S^ola |
Os^u`n |
||
Kubayende |
Pata en Llaga (‘Sore on Leg’) |
Babalu`-Aye` |
|
Zarabanda |
Ogu`n |
||
Mariwanga |
Centella (‘Flash’) |
Oya` |
|
Watariamba |
Vence Batallas (‘Win Battles’), Busca Rastros (‘Seek Signs’) |
Os^osi |
|
13 |
Daday |
Cuatro Vientos (‘4 Winds’) |
Orunmila |
Musilango |
Oris^a-Oko |
||
Burufinda / Nurufinda |
Osanyin |
||
Mama Canata |
Nana Bukuu |
||
Brazo Fuerte (‘Arm Strong’) |
Aganju |
p. 27 the # of herbs which are used to feed each deity
deity |
# |
Lucero |
3 or 21 or 101 |
Tiembla-Tierra |
8 |
Siete Rayos |
6 |
Centella |
9 |
Madre de Agua |
7 |
Mama S^ola |
5 |
Zarabanda |
3 or 7 |
Pata en Llaga |
17 |
pp. 27-28 herbs belonging to each deity
p. |
deity |
herbs |
27 |
Lucero |
wheatgrass, asafoetida, basil |
Tiembla-Tierra |
lilies, almond, soursop |
|
Siete Rayos & Brazo Fuerte |
plantain, banana, china berry |
|
28 |
Madre de Agua |
vervain, indigo, watercress |
Zarabanda |
lemongrass, mimosa, jericho flower |
|
Centella |
yucca, plum, mazorquilla |
|
Pata de Llaga |
cundiamor, sargazo, zazafra |
pp. 31-32 functions of the Iroko (Kapok) tree
p. |
its __ |
is __ |
31 |
shadow |
reposing-place for spirits |
roots |
home of Mama Ungungu |
|
soil around it |
offering to Brazo Fuerte |
|
tea from leaves |
"will open a neophyte’s third eye" |
|
32 |
wood hung with red ribbon |
"by a baby’s crib will protect her from the evil eye." |
p. 32 "Other talismans against the evil eye that work are a piece of jet (azabache), a piece of red coral, or a dog’s tooth."
pp. 36-39 contents of a prenda (cauldron)
p. 36 |
"otan (stone)" : "These dark, flat, elongated stones are pointed on one end and have white streaks running through them. They are sacred to Siete Rayos." |
p. 37 |
"with animal skulls, rams’ horns, machetes and sticks." |
p. 38 |
There will be "some rumbling sounds which will indicate that the spirit of the dead body buried under the chosen grave is eager to work with them. The grave is then dug up and the kiyumba (skull), fingers, toes, tibias, and ribs are removed from the cadaver". |
p. 39 |
"a hollowed piece of bamboo ... filled with mercury ... sealed inside with beeswax; the remains of a small black male dog which will serve as the nfumbi’s pet and messenger, dirt from an anthill, the necessary twenty-one foundation sticks ..., termites, a dead bat, spiders, lizards, a centipede, a toad, cinnamon, chili peppers". |
p. 40 contents of a boumba (also called sacu-sacu, or macuto = a burlap bag) [not used in Palo Monte]
"the heads, legs, and hearts from the following animals : ... a cat, an opossum ..., a black goat, a sparrow, an owl, ... a vulture, a woodpecker, a blackbird, and a parrot. |
Plus the remains of a snake, ... a scorpion, ... a wasp, a dragonfly, red ants, ... and caterpillars." |
p. 41 For this boumba, Simbi is invoked.
p. 42 The boumba is used in Mayombe.
pp. 46-47 ingredients of the "secret powder that gives to" Nurufinda / Burufinda – this powder being kept "inside an antler"
p. |
ingredient |
46 |
the feet of : a tortoise, |
47 |
a small parrot. |
the remains of : a macaw, a turtledove. |
|
eyen & tongue of a rooster. |
|
7 each of : large emmets, mate seeds. |
p. 49 #s of animals favoring one’s initiator
4 elephants, 10 vultures, 17 hyaenas |
pp. 50-61 the 21 paths of Elufe (Lucero)
pp. 50-51 names of the paths |
pp. 52-61 functions of the diagrams |
||||
p. |
# |
name |
p. |
# |
function |
50 |
1. |
Kunanmembe "He who is as well good as bad." |
51 |
1. |
versatile |
2. |
Prima "at dawn or dusk." |
52 |
2. |
"a bottle and keep an evil soul trapped there." |
|
3. |
Ndaya "Lord of the Underworld." |
3. |
"to protect a dwelling." |
||
4. |
Pitilanga "Lord of the Seashore." |
53 |
4. |
"at nightfall ... feed the sign an old black hen." |
|
5. |
Madruga "Lord of the Wee Hours of the Morning." |
5. |
"invoking the spirits of dead tatas." |
||
6. |
Aprueba-fuerza "Lord of the Rails." |
54 |
6. |
"invoking Zarabanda." |
|
51 |
7. |
Vence Guerra "Winner of Battles." |
7. |
"to win any battle." |
|
8. |
Vira-Mundo "World-turner." |
55 |
8. |
"to break any spell." |
|
9. |
Monteoscuro "Lord of the Dark Mountains" |
9. |
"when ready to engage in a dangerous battle." |
||
10. |
Busca Buya ("lives as the police station.") |
56 |
10. |
"Keeps the police away." |
|
11. |
Mundo Nuevo ("protects prisoners.") |
11. |
"Use to get someone out of prison." |
||
12. |
Rompe Monte "terra-cotta roof tile." |
57 |
12. |
"feed to a snake and ask that it turns {turn} someone crazy." |
|
13. |
Sabicunanguasa ("lives at the river’s edge and eats black hens.") |
13. |
"Kill him a black hen at the bank of a river". |
||
14. |
Talatarde "Lord of Pestilence." |
58 |
14. |
"Place nine different herbs in a bottle of Chamba." |
|
15. |
Katilemba ("Kubayende’s sidekick.") |
15. |
|||
16. |
Casco Duro "of the lakes." |
59 |
16. |
"Sacrifice a chicken ... by a lake". |
|
17. |
Tronco Malva "Lord of the Four Cardinal Points." |
17. |
"To protect and defend". |
||
18. |
Pata Sueno "Lord of the Crossroads." |
60 |
18. |
"embarking on a trip". |
|
19. |
Jaguey Grande "Lord of the Mountain." |
19. |
"to invoke the spirits of the forest." |
||
20. |
Kabankiriyo "Lord of Darkness." |
61 |
20. |
"to attack enemies." |
|
21. |
Siete Puertas "Lord of the Underdog." |
21. |
"at the gates of the cemetery." |
general features of diagrams (in Palo Monte)
basic arrow is pointed upwards; basic wave (actually a directed wave) is pointed from lower left to upper right; if horizontal, arrows point (when not alternating) to the right. |
Alternating small crossed and small Os are used decoratively {much as asterisks are employed in Lukumi`}. |
pp. 52-61 descriptions of the firmas (diagrams) of the 21 paths of Elufe
p. |
# |
diagram |
51 |
1. |
circle upon crossed arrows |
52 |
2. |
arrow crossed by complex wave and by 4 cross-circles |
3. |
same as #1, with dots (4) at intersections |
|
53 |
4. |
upon partitioned-based stand : trident crossed by arrow – verticals are crossed by 4 lines above and by 3 lines below; horizontals are crossed on each side by set of 4 downward-pointing arrows |
5. |
arrow crossed by wave and by 4 slanting arrows |
|
54 |
6. |
arrow crossed by : X; 2 cross-circles; 4 arrows |
7. |
similar to #4, except that horizontals are crossed on each side by set of 3 lines |
|
55 |
8. |
arrow crossed by : wave; 2 arrows; arrow-X |
9. |
3-nocked arrow crossed by : 3-nocked wave; 3 arrows; 3-nocked arrow; arrow; arrow-X |
|
56 |
10. |
arrow crossed by : line; 8-sectioned circle; wave; line crossed at each end; partitioned line |
11. |
arrow crossed by : concentric cross-circles (with X between them); 3 curves (with 2 circles); line; wave crossing arrow crossed by 6 alternating arrows; cross-circle |
|
57 |
12. |
arrow crossed by : cross-circle; wave crossed by 7 arrows |
13. |
arrow crossed by : 7 lines; self-crossing wave crossed by 7 long lines (at wave self-crossing) and by 7 short lines (at non-self-crossing part of wave) |
|
58 |
14. |
arrow crossed by wave and by 4 slanting lines |
15. |
6 vertical lines crossed by 7 alternating arrows |
|
59 |
16. |
3-nocked arrow surmounted by rayed disk, and crossed by : semicircle with star & crescent; wave upon line upon circle |
17. |
weapon having trident at each end : crossed by double-arrow and by cross-circle |
|
60 |
18. |
trident crossed by : line; circle upon slanted cross having wave; wave crossed by 9 alternating arrows |
19. |
3-foliaged-above downward-pointing trident, crossed by : 2 cross-circles; partitioned triangle |
|
61 |
20. |
pinwheel upon wave |
21. |
8 directions, with a slanting directional crossed by complex wave; vertical semicircle enclosing sun, jolly-roger, moon, and 6-pointed as well as 5-pointed star |
each of these hath 21 dots : #4, #5, #7, #8, #11, #18; #19; #21 (for #19, the dots are along circles; for the others, the dots are along the wave)
pp. 49-50, 62-64 attributes of the deities
pp. |
49-50 |
62 |
62-3 |
64 |
deity |
Tata Nkuyu |
Kenge |
Nsasi |
Mama Kalunga |
colors |
49 red & black |
white |
62 red & white |
blue & clear |
fruits |
guava |
soursop |
red banana |
watermelon |
herb |
pasture |
jasmine |
palm frond |
seaweed |
mineral |
jet |
marble |
63 flint |
aquamarine |
condiment |
50 palm oil |
cocoa butter |
palm oil |
molasses |
wood |
abre-camino |
silk-cotton |
palm |
bamboo |
numbers |
3; 21 |
8; 24 |
4; 6 |
7; 12 |
pp. 64-69 attributes of the deities
pp. |
64-5 |
66-7 |
68 |
69 |
deity |
S^ola Wange |
Zarabanda |
Kubayende |
Mariwanga |
colors |
64 yellow & amber |
66 green & black |
purple; brown |
(all) |
fruits |
cantaloupe |
plantain |
dates; raisins |
papaya |
herb |
chamomile |
lemongrass |
escoba amarga |
caimitillo |
mineral |
65 amber |
iron |
quartz |
bronze |
condiment |
honey |
67 black pepper |
sesame seeds |
eggplant |
wood |
cinnamon |
algarrobo |
arbol del sebo |
guara |
numbers |
5 |
3; 7 |
11; 13 |
9 |
pp. 62-69 some other features of the deities
p. |
deity |
feature |
62 |
Nsasi |
"lives on the top of the extremely tall royal palm trees." |
64 |
Mama Kalunga |
"wife of Brazo Fuerte". |
65 |
Zarabanda |
"A small black dog must be sacrificed, his skull being kept forever in the cauldron." {cf. the hounds immolated to Enualios} |
"The following sticks are indispensable to Zarabanda : palo hueso, palo jiqui, quiebra hacha, malambo, and palo yaya." |
||
68 |
Kubayende |
"the devotee to dress in burlap ... for one day per month, usually on the 17th." |
68-9 |
Mariwanga |
"wife of Siete Rayos." (p. 68) "she rules ... over lightning, ... as ruler of the wind." (. 69) |
pp. 80-85 intricate firmas
p. |
purpose |
firma |
where drawn |
80 |
to help inmate achieve freedom |
8-direction ring, containing line crossing 3 lines |
cedar wood |
81 |
to empower a house |
slanted cross, its 4 arms having : cross & wave; wave; cross-circle; lozenge of 6 * 4 lozenges |
in front of the main cauldron |
82 |
to obtain material wealth |
2 curved arrows mutually double-crossing; circle containing 7 arrows; interior circle containing arrow |
|
83 |
to exorcise evil spirits |
crescent; 2 8-rayed circles; 3-footed arrow, on circle containing wave; crossed arrows, on circle containing wave crossing line; circle containing crossed arrows |
on floor in front of cauldron |
84 |
for permanent protection |
vertical arrow crossing 7 alternative directional arrows; on circle containing crescent, star, man & woman |
nso (temple) |
85 |
to make one’s self invisible to the police |
2 curved arrows mutually double-crossing, crossed by 7 arrows; arrow upon circle containing arrow crossing line; 2 curved arrows mutually double-crossing, crossed nigh extremities by 2 arrows, with circle around centre of the double-crossing curved arrows |
parchment to be carried with one’s self at all times |
pp. 86-90 firmas depicting nkisi-s (deities)
p. |
nkisi |
firma |
86 |
Tiembla Terra |
on stand : curved line crossed by 2 lines |
Zarabanda |
circle containing cross |
|
87 |
Pata en Llaga |
on 2 crutches : arrow crossing arrow |
Centella Ndoki |
circle upheld; whirl; comb |
|
Mama C^ola |
slanted line across cross |
|
88 |
Nurufinda |
circle containing : tree; arrow with curve; line with 2 curves, upon circle |
Nfuiri |
arrow crossed by : line upon circle; X; triangle; line upon circle; wave enclosing lines |
|
89 |
Balaunde |
arrow crossed by : triangle; 7 alternating arrows; 2 complex waves mutually crossing |
Kalunga |
cross upon complex wave crossing circle |
|
Lucero |
on partitioned-based stand : rayed oval inclosing X; X |
|
90 |
Mama Kenge |
on stand : rayed disk |
Mama S^ola |
crossing anchored arrow : slanted branch across circle |
|
Nkuyo |
crossing arrow : complex wave upon 3 alternating arrows |
pp. 91-94 ideographs
pp. 102-109 simple firmas
p. |
purpose |
firma |
where drawn |
food |
102-3 |
to find a lover |
arrow within shrine |
flat ground |
cinnamon |
104 |
to send back evil |
8 directions |
ground |
|
105 |
for good luck |
crossed anchors within shrine |
ground |
parsley, watercress |
108 |
to make business prosper |
pinwheel |
behind door of bathroom |
starfruit, jutia |
109 |
cleansing |
ball |
inside cauldron |
egg |
pp. 117, 118, 119, 120, 121 litany (of deities’ names)
Tiembla Terra 7 Rayos Madre de Agua S^olan Genge Pata en Llaga Centellita Zarabanda Nanga Palo Madre Ceiba Limpia Piso Sigue Rastro Mayordomo Empaca Cuadrilla Manzanero |
pp. 127-128 "alphabet"
p. |
letter |
name |
127 |
A |
yugo |
B |
yulo |
|
C |
yili |
|
D |
salvari |
|
E |
buo |
|
F |
came |
|
G |
nie |
|
H |
busili |
|
I |
tituli |
|
J |
yaluni |
|
K |
tolada |
|
L |
bi |
|
128 |
M |
duli |
N |
suli |
|
N~ |
bulu |
|
O |
bisula |
|
P |
dilonia |
|
Q |
simbula |
|
R |
yolio |
|
S |
yuriko |
|
T |
bolva |
|
U/V |
soyke |
|
W |
sume |
|
X |
saulau |
|
Y |
teuse |
|
Z |
kintoo |
pp. 128-134 glossary of Ki-kongo words
pp. 135-143 Ki-kongo & Lukumi names of plants
Baba Raul Canizares : The Book on Palo. Original Publications, Old Bethpage (NY), 2002.