Obeah is a AFRO-CARIBBEAN Folk Religion and System of Witchcraft.
Obeah has many branches, each one with a different set of beliefs and
practices. Some common beliefs are the existence of a single, supreme
creator god represented in Zambi (Olorum-Jehovah); the existence of
Spiritual forces called Orisha, some of them synchronistic with
Catholic saints that act as divine energy and forces of nature;
spirits of deceased people that counsel and guide believers through
troubles in the material world;
Mediums,(Papa Obi or Mama
Obi) who have a natural ability that can be perfected to bring
messages from the spiritual world of Orisha and the guiding spirits.
The Obeah creeds and practices are an eclectic mixture from five
main sources:
From Catholicism, Obeah adopted
the ideas of Supreme and Only One Creator God, The Gospel
scriptures, the cult of saints( Masks for the Orisha) and their
icons, some feasts and Psalms Magic, Candles, the practice of
charity;
Obeah adopted the creeds of
Spiritualism, a Medium (Priest) to contact the spirits of deceased
people, reincarnation and spiritual evolution through many physical
existences, the use of Occult Practices, and Sigil Magic.
from the AFRO-CARIBBEAN religions,
Obeah have adapted Orisha Worship, Spirit Procession , Incantations,
Power of Cigar Smoke, Rum, and working with Root, Stones, and Bones,
A major Part of Obeah Ritual is calling upon Papa Bones to work with
the Ancestral Powers to bring about desired Change.
- From Pentecostalism: Dance, Song and Speaking in Tongues,
Laying on of Hands, and Baptism, play a Major Part of Rituals and
Worship.
- Grimoires: The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses, the Greater
and Lesser Keys of Solomon ect,
Obeah Works With Seven Main Orisha
(Note: Not all Forms of Obeah work with the Orisha)
TaTa Elegba: The Lord of the
Crossroads, The Male aspect of Creation, He the GateKeeper of
Heaven, the One who Open the Door for all Spirits to cross into this
world. His is linked with the Sun.
Obatala: He is the Father-Mother
of all Humanity, The Ruler of all Heads; He represents the Lord's
Light, the Beginning, The Breath of Life, Lord of Divination,,, The
Wise Serpent of Creation.
YaYa Yamyah She represents the
feminine principle of creation. She is linked to the sea (and so
considered the patron of fishermen) and to the moonlight.
Oshun She is the goddess of the
rivers, of money, Beauty , and of love.
Ogun He is a Fire and Iron Orisha,
Divine warrior that protects people in the military.
Shango The Lord of the Dance, He
is the lord of justice and represents the lightning bolt.
- Oya. The Wind of Change, rules of Witches and the Cemetery
In addition to the Seven Orisha, In Obeah They also work with the
Bones Family of Spirits:
- Papa Bones: The Master of the Obi, The ruler of the
Graveyard, The Cosmos Skeleton, He is all Bones, and all Bones are
Him, His darker side is Sasabonsam, a blood Sucking Demon who dwell
in the Forest, he has iron Teeth and Iron hooks for feet. Mister
Bones colors are Black and White. He is Both the Prince of Darkness
and the Prince of Peace, he is a Satan and Jesus all in One, He
Likes offerings of: Dark Rum, Cigars, Black Coffee, Black Beans,
Chicken Blood, Fresh Animal Bones with bits of Meat still on it..
- Mama Bones, The Dark One of the Swamp Land, Also Know as
Mistress Ibo, Powerful Witch.. Protector of Children. She is the
Cosmic Mother of the Humanity, Her Colors are Black and Purple. She
Enjoys offerings of: Pipe Tobacco, Clear Rum, Coffee, Fried Chicken,
and craw-fish.
- Gay Bones: The Bringer of Joy, Happiness, and the Good Life.
Also known as Happy Bones, Many People know see him as the Patron of
Homosexual Men. His Colors are Pink and White. He life offering of:
Pink Champagne, White Cakes, Rice and Milk, and Sweets, Never offer
him blood or meat, otherwise he will take away all happiness form
your life.
- Baron Bones: Also Know as Pope Bones, In life he was a
Priest, he is loves to tell a dirty joke, he is the Spirit of
Wealth, His Colors are Gold, White, and Purple. He like Offering of
gold coins, Good Wine, and bloody steaks.
- Black Jake Bones: Rulers over Card Games, the Spirit of Luck,
His colors are Red and White, He like offerings of Playing Cards,
Poker chips, Cigars, whiskey, and BBQ.
- Marie Bones: She Rules over Matters of the Heart, she was a
Hair Dresser in Life. She has a Darker aspect called Mama Chola. Her
Colors are Pink, Green, and White. She Likes offering of: Mirrors,
Hairbrushes, Beauty Products, fine Foods, Flowers and Green apples..
- Doctor Bones: Powerful Obi Herb Doctor, a Healer, he has a
Darker side called The Dark Angel, where he can harm just as much as
heal, His Colors are White, Black, Brown, and Green. Likes offerings
of: Bandages, Herbs, Pock, and medical Tools.
- White Bones Dan: The Great Serpent, He as a Female side
called Aydia, He is the Power of Obi, His colors are White, Green
(Male) and Blue (female). He likes offerings of: Eggs, White Foods.
- Mammy River: Power Moon Spirit, who Comes out under the light
of the moon, She has a Dark side the pulls fishermen under the sea,
She could not have children, so she is the Foster Mother of Jumbies.
Children who dieded unloved or alone. Colors are Yellow, Light Green
and white, She Hates Salt, but Likes offering of Spring Water,
fruits of all kinds, and Yellow follows. Never offer her fish as she
is the Mother of rivers..
- Peta Legba: the Old Man at the Crossroads, an Aspect of of
Papa Bones, he open the Gates bettween the worlds.
- Grand Boa: the Bones of the Forest, powerful Spirit, Likes
offering of Herbs, Rum, Green Candles.
Here is a List of the Bones family that was given to me by a
Member of the Trinidad Line of Obeah, very much like the one above
with so key difference:
Papa Bones - as many faces of Bones as there are bones in the
human body if not more, the cosmic skeleton, the Prince of Darkness,
one could write a book on Bones alone. A Janus like deity Bones the
neutral side and Sasabonsam (same as the Akan African one) the
darkside. Colors violet/purple and black but can be red especially if
Sasabonsam. Likes rum, cigars, pork, tobacco, bones, ganja, black
coffee, black candles, apricot brandy... So People See Papa Bones as
a Cross of Jesus Christ and Satan all in one, He can be the Prince of
Peace or the Prince of Darkness.
Mama Bones - The Dark One, swamp witch often with snakes, and an
Earth mother, Ancestral Mother of all humanity, as our bodies are
made from minerals, roots and the bodies and bones of those sleeping
beneath the cold ground. An oracular spirit of dreams and visions.
likes tobacco, ganja, black candles, rum.
Papa Bois -- also known as Maître Bois meaning master of
the
woods or 'Daddy Bouchon' meaning hairy man. As in Trinidad
folklore. He is the keeper and protector of forests and all the flora
and fauna that dwell within them. He is depicted as a short old
African man with horns and cloven feet. His body is completely
covered with hair and sometimes is shown having a beard of leaves. He
sometimes takes the form of a deer. His female counterpart is Mama
Dlo (MammyRiver) who is just as in Trinidad folklore a kind of
mermaid.
Mary Bones/Maria Bones -- is always present in the paths of dark
forests, crossroads, and poorly lit streets of the city or by the
waters edge of the beach during the night of the full moon. She loves
flowers, especially red fragrant roses. Mary Bones appears as young
lady of any race and is often dressed exotically and loves the
movement in the city, she also loves to be around people. Her veve is
a skull in a heart or a skull with a rose or roses. She prefers
offerings of red cigarillos, ganja, roses, sweets, sweet liqueurs and
fine drinks. (also known as Mama Chola)
Jack Bones -- roams the sea like an old master, appearing in older
vessels, ports, taverns and houses of coastal fishermen. His
favourite drink is strong and cheap rum. Some say he is the
manifestation of Pope Bones at sea. He dwells among fish and
crustaceans, waves and shipwrecks, engaging on the bottom of the blue
kingdom. His appearance is that of the old sea captains. House de
Leon calls him Captain Jack (yeah, yeah I know the movie this
predates that) or Bones of the Sea. He prefers offerings of roll your
own tobacco cigarettes, strong cheap rum, ganja and cigars.
John Bones -- a curator and connoisseur of herbs of the forest,
who smokes a big pipe that has a penetrating aroma. He prefers
offerings of tobacco, herbs or leaves used in magic, a hot meal on a
plate.
Pope Bones -- a skeleton or pitch black man dressed as a Catholic
bishop or pope. He prefers offerings of whisky or rum.
Pete Bones/Old Pete/Pete La Mort -- Keeper of the Crossroads, a
sort of hermit, appears as a man or skeleton dressed as a poor
Catholic priest and has a long red beard. He prefers offerings of a
hot meal on a plate, Jamaican rum or black coffee. He is seen by some
as an aspect of Papa Legba and is sometime know as Pata Llaga when he
become the Gatekeeper...
Louis Bones -- an aristocrat from the spirit world, attire tails
and top hat, smoking tobacco and drinking fine wines. Louis is good
with material matters, networking and relations that further one's
status in this world. He prefers offerings of cognac, fine wines,
coins, snuff and tobacco.
Joseph Bones -- the ghost rider, carries a huge sword, knife,
wearing huge black cape and has only one eye. He prefers offerings of
Jamaican rum and tobacco.
Isobel Bones/ Isobel La Mort -- a lady dressed in white, who likes
to help people desperate and lost. She prefers offerings of white
flowers, white wines, and jewellery.
Louise Bones/Old Louise -- old and gentle lady who sings old songs
on hot moonless nights, gently strokes the heads and visits the
dreams of people sleeping on balconies. Louise is a strong healer and
can settle the nerves of those going through troubling life
experiences. She prefers offerings of flowers.
Elizabeth Bones -- a beautiful lady that likes mysterious young
men, white as snow, cold hands and a pale face, enchants men and
leads them to the madness of passion. She prefers offerings of
flowers, red wines, jewellery, and chocolates.
Bony Mare -- a ghostly horse, or a black mule shrouded in dense
smoke and blue fire from the other world. They prefer offerings of
incense smoke, or smoke from a cigar.
Black Bones -- a black dog, a mastiff, helps and protects the
Obeah men and women, likes affection as any dog alive.
Lou Black -- a shadow of a man or animal, keeper of treasures
buried. They can be invoked by the permutation of their name. He
prefers offerings of food and drink.
Obi - is the force/energy and core of Obeah they are depicted as a
huge serpent in our lineage.
The Eleven Commandments of Obeah
- Do not do to your Neighbors what you would not wish them to
do to you.
- Do not Curse the Name of the Creator
- Help the Needy without asking Questions
- Never Come before the Spirits empty Handed
- Respect All Religions Because they come form the Creator
- Do not Criticize what you do not Understand
- Do not Eat Human Flesh
- Fulfill your mission, no matter the personal sacrifices it
may take to do so.
- Do Not Fear Death, nor shall you take your own life.
- Defend yourself and your family form those who wish your harm
- Teach your Children the Commandments
The Seven Principles of Obeah
- The Oneness of Father-Mother God, The Zambi, our Olodumare.
- The Communion of Saints, Spirits, Angels, Bones, and Orisha
- The Eternal Progression of the Human Soul
- The Power of Obi, to bring about changes in our and others
lives
- The acceptance of divine Healing
- Personal responsibility for our own actions
- The unity of the Human race in Service to the Creator.
The Five Pillars of Obeah
- Service to Our Guiding Spirits and the Orisha
- Respect for our Ancestors and the Bones
- Trance and Possession
- The Ashe of Herbs, Plants, Bones, Roots, Stones, and Mother
Nature, to channel the Forces of Obi
- The Belife in Obi, in order to better our Daily lives.
Outline of a Basic Obeah Initiation:
1. Divination: A
Divination is Done to see if Papa Bones accepts the Person, and
tofind the crowning Orisha.
2. Night Long Vigil: a night long
vigil takes place where the person fasts: Food, Drink, and Sleep, to
Help Connect to The Spirits, and Possession Followed Crowning
Orisha.
3.Seven Baptisms: The Person is Baptized Seven Times in
Seven different places in the name of the crowning Orisha
4.Sacrifice is made in a Graveyard to Papa Bones
5. Creation of Bones Pot (Nganga) in Honor of Papa Bones and Bones
Family.
