New Saint Expedite Spell Kit Listed

When it comes to solving unexpected problems, no-one can work as quick as Saint Expedite. He is called mainly for money and job opportunities, but I have seen him work just as quickly and wonderfully for many other matters. He is one of the most loved Hoodoo saints for his generosity and speedy work. This kit contains all the elements you will need to perform this simple and effective ritual. I have designed it specially for people who are starting rootworkers, and even for those who have never worked with Hoodoo before – so don’t worry if you are not well versed in Hoodoo, this is perfect for beginners – but at the same time, it is exactly the same ritual I use for myself, so seasoned Witches can benefit from it too.

Kit Contents:
- Saint Expedite Vigil Candle;
- Saint Expedite Anointing Honey;
- A bag of herbs, all organic and homegrown at our magick garden;
- Two squares of kraft paper to write your petition, which is the equivalent of parchment paper in Santeria;
- A scroll with instructions to perform the spell.
The only thing not included is a small plate to place all elements; you can see in the second pic that I have used a regular teacup dish.

You can find this kit at The Hoodoo Shop at Etsy.

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Pics Of A Magickal Life

Wish-granting spell for a Witch Sister. Makes me feel like a Fairy Godmother :).

Fernando’s altar to Maria Lionza – small for now, but soon there won’t be a place to put a candle. Altars grow by themselves like plants!

Hex breaking spell for a customer – no-one like the Holy Death for such a job. I found the statue (which is actually an oil burner, Halloween decor maybe) on a thrift shop several years ago, and I love working with Her.

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New Listings At The Hoodoo Shop

Maria Lionza Holy Cards

Maria Lionza is the main Spirit of Venezuelan Hoodoo, the Goddess of all nature and generous protector of humanity. I made this digital collage for my husband’s altar, as he is one of Her children; he loved it and suggested to offer it at the shop – and so I did!The collage was made using an antique holy card from my collection and adding several elements in Photoshop; yellow and red roses (her colours and flowers) and the Tapir, which is her totemic animal.
The card measures approx 5×8 cms, the regular size of a business card. Use it to build a mini altar, keep it in your wallet, your car or anywhere where you need her protection. The card comes in protective ziplock bag and has been printed on high quality photographic paper.

New Batch Of Charm Dolls (See Separate Listings)
Yemanya Charm Doll (One Available)

Ochum Charm Doll (Two Available)

Oya Charm Doll (Three Available)

Money Mojo Charm Doll (Three Available)

In Voodoo, Hoodoo and Santeria, dolls are often used for healing and protection, placed in your altar or carried in a mojo bag. These series of dolls I’m presenting you are completely handmade by me from start to finish. They are made from painted pine wood, my favourite vintage fabrics and beads. They all have some kind of charm attached to them to reinforce their power, and they have been blessed and consecrated by me. I have sold many of them to my local customers through the years and they love them! They are also a beautiful gift for someone who’s in need of some magickal help, or for someone who cannot allow to buy more expensive altar statues. They are about 10 cms tall including feathers – that’s about 3,5 inches. They are all made in small batches and I cannot assure that the next batch will be exactly the same as some vintage fabric and charm supplies are very limited.

Ochum Vigil Candle

This new line of Orisha candles are made from the digital collages I made to create the set of cards you can find in other listings. Ochum, goddess of the sweet waters, Queen of Love and patron of women, is here represented surrounded by peacock feathers, as the peacock is one of her most powerful totems. This is a 3-day (more or less of course)vigil candle, which I think is a better option for everyday magickal work than 9-day vigils. They measure 6 cms – that’s 2,3 inches. All candles have been blessed, but anointing them with your favourite oil is recommended for even better effects.

Eleggua Lucky Charms

Lucky charm made with handpainted (by me) wooden beads, gemstones and cowrie shells, wrapped with copper wire. You will receive ONE charm, chosen randomly from the batch. This is an all-purpose protection charm; the beads have been painted to recreate the traditional Eleggua image, which is made of concrete with cowrie shell inserts as eyes and mouth. Eleggua is the owner of the Aché (luck) and the connection between our world and the world of Spirits.

You can find all these items (and more) at The Hoodoo Shop at Etsy.

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Have You Been Hoodooed? Part III

This post will be a quick guide of products that are essential for a good spiritual cleansing, and several recipes for home-made cleaning products. I have added links to the products noted here that we have available, in case you can’t find them at your local Botanica. Without further ado, here it goes:

Candles – white or golden. Place one on every room of the house for a thorough start cleaning; after that, one in your altar/sacred space should be more than enough.
Salt – both Blessed Salts and Black Salts. Blessed Salts can be mixed on the floor washes, added to atomizers with your favourite fragrance and sprinkled on thresholds of doors and windows. Black salts are better used outside the house, sprinkling them around the perimeter of your property. Inside the house you can keep them in a small bottle or jar, behind the front door.
Rosemary – a bundle of rosemary hanging near your front and/or back door will keep negativity away; remember to change it every three months.
Sage – sage bundles for smudging are used by many Witchy paths; always keep a good stock of sage to burn whenever you feel your magickal defences are low.
Chimes and Bells – many cultures believe that the sound of bells and chimes moved by the wind is highly beneficial to create positive energy around us. Hang them on windows if you don’t have a yard or garden. Never place them against walls or any place where they won’t be moved by air drafts, because they will “reverse” their energy and will become magnets for negativity.
Live plants – even if you don’t have a garden, keeping a window sill mini- garden with protection herbs is a magnificent amulet. Plants like Aloe, Rue, Thyme and Basil have powerful spirit warriors to protect you. Keep them very spoiled and check any sudden changes as a warning for spells made against you.

Anti-Ghost Floor Wash – To Put Unwelcome Spirits Away
In the morning, fill a big bucket with distilled/rain water and add a spoonful of dried Rue (Ruta Graveolens), the petals of three white roses (dry or fresh), a teaspoon of Graveyard Dirt, and 21 drops of Mano Poderosa oil. Let it sit under a window or outside, where it will receive the light of the Sun, until noon. After noon, drain and clean all your house with it.
Moon Phase: Waning Moon/New Moon

Good Vibration Spray
On a transparent glass jar, mix distilled/rain water with 11 drops of Black Hawk Oil, a teaspoon of dried Vervain (Verbena Officinalis) and a teaspoon of dried lemon rind. Let sit for 24 hours on a window sill where it will receive the light of the sun and the moon. Strain and place on a spray bottle; you can spray any surface with it.
Moon Phase: Waxing Moon/Full Moon

The Aloe Spell
Get a small aloe plant of offshoot, a pot and good quality soil. Fill about a third of the pot with soil and set aside. In a green mojo bag, place three pennies, a pinch of your own hair, three garlic cloves, an iron key and a chunk of ginger root. Close the bag and feed it with 21 drops of King Solomon Oil and a shot of whiskey. Place the bag on the soil, add some more soil and plant the Aloe. Place the pot near your front door, or anywhere where the Aloe will get enough sunlight.
Moon Phase: Full Moon

Protection Jar
Get a small jar with a metal lid (baby food size is ok) and fill it with Bondye Powders, a spoonful of brown sugar, a pinch of your hair, a teaspoon of powdered cinnamon, a spoonful of dry basil and a spoonful of dry fennel. Add honey until it is full, close the jar tightly and seal it with white wax. Once a week, preferably on Sundays, stick a white candle on the lid and let it burn until it’s done. To avoid the wax mess, you can use tealights too – but I like the wax mess though :).
Moon Phase: Full Moon

To read Part I of this article, please click HERE.
To read Part II of this article, please click HERE.

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Have You Been Hoodooed? Part II

The previous post was a guick reference guide on the symptons of being Hoodooed – this post will present you some preliminary steps you can take yourself to clean energies around you and get rid of negativity.

Before we start, keep this in mind: there are many types of spellwork, and many different levels of power. The examples I will explain in this post do NOT replace a hex-breaking spellwork made by a professional. If spellwork has been done against you, it is spellwork that has to be done to break it. As I said in Part I of this series, it is not the same to fight the jealousy of a neighbour or co-worker than to break a spell. It is very dangerous to fight spellwork when you are not ready; please look for a practitioner you trust for this matters.

Negativity is like dirt; it grows on corners and hidden spots and, if enough spiritual dirt is accumulated, it can make you really sick. You don’t need to think you are Hoodooed to make regular spiritual cleanings to your home and yourself; I think this should be a regular practise for all Witches, as we all attract and accumulate negativity as your furniture attracts dust. A Witch that follows a regular cleaning schedule, is very unlikely to have any problems with negativity coming her way.

Many Witches do not realize that, when you are making ANY kind of magick, it is like if you lit a candle in the dark. Low-karma spirits are attracted by this light and, if your protections are not working fully and energized, they might enter your life and cause harm. Actually this can be avoided just by keeping a regular spiritual cleaning schedule – as you exercise and watch your diet to prevent yourself from getting sick, you must “exercise” your protections to prevent yourself from being spiritually attacked. If you have children, pets or housemates, it is your duty to protect them from that spiritual activity you are creating with your work, because they are the weaker links in the chain when it comes to being prey for negative spirits.

Having said that, let’s open the witchy cupboard and start spreading some magick :) !

- First of all, you must clean your house – I mean cleaning it like all humans do. Cluttered and dirty houses are like honey for negative spirits. Open the doors and windows, turn on ALL lights and play your favourite music loud while you clean – this will start moving the stagnant energy away from you.
- Once the house is “physically” clean, it is time to start renewing the vibrational levels: turn off lights and music and light a white/golden candle and an incense stick/cone in every room. Do not forget the bathroom, the cellar, the garret, under the stairs – dark places that are usually closed are favourite places for negative spirits.
- While candles burn, wash all floors with a good floor wash, or use powders if you have carpets and vacuum after the powder has sat for about half an hour. Remember always to start by the farthest room towards the front door, paying special attention to corners and thresholds. Once you have arrived to the front door, throw away the water or vacuum contents; NEVER bring them back into the house or throw the water in the toilet.
- Pets and farming animals are like living talismans: give them some special attention. A good grooming, changing their beds or simply playing with them, will ease your mind and renew their energies as guardians and bringers of good energy.
- It happens the same with plants, specially indoor plants. Bless a jar of water and water them with it, while you talk or pray to them.

After the house, pets and plants are clean, it is your turn. Make some time for yourself and your family and get a good herbal bath for each person. Herbs like rosemary, ginger, angelica, verbena and lemon balm make wonderful cleaning teas. The process is simple; you can add a herbal sachet to your bath water, or make a tea and pour it over yourself after your shower. If temperatures allow, let the water dry on your skin; if that is not possible, try to dry yourself by tapping the skin with the towel, not rubbing.

Gardens and yards can (and must) be protected too – I have to say that Black Salts is the best and easiest method I have found for this, when sprinkled around the perimeter of the property. An altar for elementals is also an excellent idea. Your herbs, flowers and trees will grow as wonderful protections just by keeping your yard pretty and attended; nothing says “welcome annoying spirits” like an unattended yard – and please understand that I’m not saying you must have a contest-worthy yard; by attended I mean that all living forms in your yard have their necessities covered. A wild, wild garden can be as good as a protector than a tiny and neat one.

Now that you are sure that you and your surroundings are clean, you must wait for a few days and evaluate if there are still symptons of anyone in the house being “hoodooed”. On next post, we will see simple spells that practitioners from all levels can make if the symptons continue.

To read the first part of this series of posts, please click HERE.

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Have You Been Hoodooed? Part I

One of the main reasons that people come to me for consultations is to know if they have been “hoodooed” – that is, to know if evil magick has been made against them, and of course to look for remedies to break said magick. Since I have very regular clients, I know which ones can trust their own intuitions and which ones need a consultation in order to know if what they are feeling is real or just a product of fear and insecurity. One of my abilities is to know if a person is cursed as soon as I see their auras; but unfortunately this does not work online, so for customers outside the island I have to make a consultation every time. Since this is a topic that may be of interest for you, this post will be a quick guide that you can use as a checklist in order to know if you have been “fixed”:

If you are hexed, the most common symptons of it are: sudden headaches; nightmares; minor accidents like bruises, cuts and burnts; constant feeling of tiredness; stinging pain in any part of the body; poltergeist phenomena; loss of will and confusion, specially after waking up; hypnagogia (seeing/hearing/sensing presences right on the edge of falling asleep); constant feeling of being watched.

First, and most important, set your feet on the ground. Negative Witchcraft and negative rootworkers do exist, but 9 out of 10 times our problems are created only by ourselves. Making good choices in life and facing the challenge of growing are the best helpers in a lucky life; if your life is a mess, there are many chances that you have created that mess, and only you will create order. Instead of searching for hex-breaking items, search for magickal tools that help you center, empower and ground.

There is a BIG difference between being hexed and being mentally ill. Schizophrenia and paranoia, which hold many of the symptons cited above, should be treated by a psychiatrist, a psychologist or a therapist, not by a Witch. I know from experience that mentally ill patients are usually deeply spiritual people – it is our duty as Witches to send those patients to a trusted therapist. Treating those people with hex-breaking magick would only make them worse.

Never leave your health in the hands of spells. As before, many of the symptons above could be symptons of anemia, fibromyalgia and many other illnesses. Of course, in both cases you can help yourself with empowering, healing and protective magick – but what you need is definitely not hex-breaking.

Note: I am not saying that mentally and/or physically ill people cannot be hexed; they can, just as any other person. BUT hex-breaking magick is a very powerful one, that needs a healthy, empowered customer. It is very important to treat all mental and physical issues before making any magick on that customer, to make sure there won’t be side effects once the spell is made.

If you are a healthy person, both physically and mentally, then it’s time to look for magickal help; the first step would be getting a consultation through Tarot or other oracles. Not an easy task unless you already know someone who can do it! Here are some tips in case you have to look for someone to take care of this situation:
- You have to be very careful about whom you choose for this, and work only with practitioners that you trust, and whose reputation is exquisite, as you can be an easy prey for fakes and thieves.
- Do not trust practitioners who want to jump over the consultation to sell you Witchcraft products, as that is a sign of inexperience and lack of work ethics; hexing can come in many forms and levels of intensity, and the hex-breaking work has to be made accordingly. It is SO not the same to break simple negativity from a jealous co-worker than breaking a spell where animal sacrifice has been made.
- Do not trust practitioners who promise you absurdities, who say they “never” fail, or who are too proud of themselves. This is the sign of The Fake Rootworker.
- NEVER ever ever trust someone that scares you. Magick is there to be a source of comfort, relief and love, not to create fear in you.

If you have experience in working with Magick (I know many of you readers do), you can try making the work yourself: in next post, I will give some examples of spells and hex-breaking Magick. See you then!

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New Handcrafted Hoodoo Oils Listed

Tenerife’s 2009 Carnival Queen – isn’t she like a living Erzulie?

Last night was the last Carnival night here. Since we were under a storm along the week, most of the Carnival acts were cancelled to keep people safe – maybe you don’t know, but Tenerife has the second biggest Carnival in the world, right after Rio De Janeiro. That means that thousands of people are involved, and there is hardly a family here that does not belong to some kind of Carnival group. I was very sorry for all those people during the week, as the wind and rain fell merciless upon us.

But this weekend the weather has calmed, and as soon as it did, we started seeing people in costume, looking for a well-deserved party! Since my studio is at street level, I’ve been enjoying seeing “mascaritas” (little masks, the name we give here to people in costume) pass by my window, gleaming in glitter, wigs, sequins and feathers. A beautiful sight indeed!!!

We decided to use all that joyous energy on our work’s behalf – I am a firm believer in the fact that 1 million people partying can raise some f***ing great energy! On Friday night we finished preparing the Hoodoo powders we listed yesterday, and last night we took out a batch of oils that have been steeping since we finished our witchy kitchen (and that were made during another tropical storm, ain’t that a loop) and got them ready to be listed today.

This batch of oils is made with a mixture of sunflower and soy oils as a base. After herbs, resins, barks and many other curios have steeped for several weeks, oils are strained and then corresponding perfume oils are added, letting them steep some more. After that, each bottle is filled with oil and three items are added to EACH bottle. The oil comes in a 20 ml/0.9 US fluid ounces plastic bottle. To be used for anointing candles, blessing talismans, as perfume, as offering, for oil lamps, etc., as you would do with any other Holy Oil.

Types Of Oils Listed:
- King Solomon Oil: to gain wisdom, to have dominion over complex situations, to command spirits. Each bottle contains a piece of real gold leaf, a Balm Of Gilead seed and three pieces of Solomon`s Seal root. Frankincense scent.
King Solomon is an essential figure in hoodoo, being the most witchcraft-oriented figure of the Bible. Known for his wisdom, owner of wonderous protective items and commander of demons, King Solomon stays as the biggest magickal worker of antiquity, being similar to Hermes Trimegisto or Merlin.

- Papa Ghede Oil: To communicate with ancestors, to anoint candles or any ritual tool for them, for graveyard work. Each bottle contains graveyard dirt from an 18th century graveyard, an antique iron nail and a piece of storax benzoin resin. Cinnamon scent.
Papa Ghede is believed to be the spirit of the first man that died of human race, thus being the chief of all spirits of our ancestors. He is deeply related to the three Baron Lwas, and depicted as an old man wearing a straw hat and smoking a cigar, which relates him to Legba’s image too.

- India Rosa Oil: To attract love, wealth and fertility. Each bottle contains a piece of dragon’s blood resin, sandalwood chips and a rosehip berry. Passionfruit (maracujá) scent.
India Rosa is an ever-growing spirit in Venezuelan spiritualism; this gentle and loving spirit is also a fierceful protector for lovers and families, very similar to Pomba Gira. Wife of Indio Mara, the warrior spirit, she is well trained in fighting evil too.

- Black Hawk Oil: To gain courage, to get protection from evil, to fight enemies. Each bottle contains ginger root, powdered John The Conqueror root and three pieces of hematite. Orange scent.
The spirit of the indian chief Black Hawk entered Hoodoo through American Spiritualist medium Leafy Anderson (1887–1927), who entered in contact with the chief’s spirit and started working with him through her Church. This powerful spirit is an excellent aid when we need extra courage, to go through complex situations in life, and as a general anti-evil spells protection.

- Gnome’s Gold Oil: To attract luck, money and job opportunities. Each bottle contains a piece of indian cinnamon, a piece of real gold leaf and three rowan berries. Vanilla scent.
Latin Santeria believes in gnomes, fairies and other “small people” as much as it worships ancestors and Orishas. Gnomes are Earth elementals, guardians of fortunes and of the earth’s treasures. Gnome Oil is used to attract good finances, to protect our savings and investings (houses, cars, animals, crops) and of course to honour Elementals, anointing brown candles and offering them to the Gnomes.

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New Hoodoo Powders Listed

Powders are essential for successful rootworking – they are easy to hide, can be sprinkled almost anywhere without being noticed and, if crafted correctly, they work wonders without needing more complex rituals. I recommend the use of powders to the customers that are “in the broom closet”, and they have proved to be one of our best selling (and best working) products. Recently, a customer asked if I could make some kind of cleaning powder for her altar room, which happened to have carpet, so she couldn’t use floor washes – she wanted something she could sprinkle to absorb negativity and then vacuum. So, it was time to make a whole new batch for the shop!

We have made this powders using the Haitian Voodoo method – that is, using a base of talc powder where colour pigments, herbs and oils are mixed slowly and then sifted to give you the finest powder you can get. Then, the powders are consecrated in the altar, where special offerings have been placed to have the blessing of the Orishas and make the powders extra powerful. Except the Black Salts, which is a completely different recipe, all powders have a very soft colour and smell like Hoodoo Heaven.

Types Of Powders Listed:
- Pomba Gira: to attract love and increase sensuality; Pomba Gira is the wild and powerful energy of the Kundalini. She is also a loving protector of business women.
- Ashé: to attract money, luck and business opportunities; an all-purpose powder for protection and good vibrations that will unblock stagnant situations.
- Bondyè: blessing and cleaning powder to keep your house protected and clean from all negativity; specially useful after banishing spells, or when moving into a new house.
- Legba: this is really Hot and Vibrant magick from the Lwa of Crossroads! Open roads, fight enemies and create a wall of protection around you when situations are hard to deal with.
- Black Salts: our first batch has sold out, so we have made another one. Excellent for hex breaking, to get rid of annoying neighbours/habits/relationships, and to put envy and negativity a mile away. This one is not suitable for body use.

Use Of Hoodoo Powders:
- Use a salt shaker you don’t use for food for easier dosage.
- To clean the house, sprinkle a pinch on every room of the house, starting by the farthest room, paying special attention to dark and hidden corners, and moving towards the front door. Then broom the house following the same route and throw away the powders outside. Never bring the powders back in! If you live in a flat, place the powders on a bag and throw them outside.
- Except the Black Salts, the powders are completely harmless for your skin, so you can mix them with your own powders to add extra mojo to your complete being :).
- To make a wish, take a pinch in the palm of your hand and go outside. Concentrate on your wish and then blow the powder, facing North if you want to attract things, and facing South if you want to get rid of things.
- Black Salts are specially powerful when sprinkled around your whole property, always outside the house.
- All powders can be mixed with water and used as floor washes, or to clean altars and magick tools.
- Pomba Gira powder makes wonders when sprinkled on the bed ;).
- As said above, sprinkle your carpeted floors, let sit for a while and then vacuum. Remember to throw the powders outside immediately.

And remember:
- Avoid breathing the powders – talc powder is bad for your lungs.
- Never ingest the powders or add them to food.
- After using Black Salts, always wash your hands – they contain camphor and may irritate your skin.
- When using them as body powder, avoid head and genital area.

Recently I read a post from a fellow worker saying that she didn’t want to make hoodoo products because they were “cheap” – I won’t give names because I’m not interested in starting a discussion, but believe me, our products are anything but cheap. We lovingly handcraft each and every one with the best herbs, resins and powders we can find, using 20 years of knowledge as a background. We always work in small batches and revise and recreate our own recipes as we experiment and grow – our recipes evolve as we learn and study the sinergy between oils, herbs, minerals, etc. Though I won’t deny there are many shops selling mass-produced items that I wouldn’t buy myself, that is not our case, as we do not resell pre-made witchcraft products; we make everything from scratch. Enough said :) – our feedback speaks by itself.

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Spellwork Pics, Storm Stories And Unrelated Stuff :)

Wealth spellwork for an Australian customer.
Despite the tropical storm blowing and hailing, and the loss of electrical power during most of the day on the whole island of Tenerife, this Witch had to work just as any other day – actually, working almost in the dark, with thunder and lightning around, and banshee-like howling winds was quite an empowering moment. The spirits were very eager to communicate and the work went smoothly and without interferences. Fortunately (and magickally), electrical power came back just when I was about to light the spell candles :), giving me the chance to make the pics I needed for my customer’s report. As a thank you, Fernando went to the thrift shop and bought this huge coffee-scented candle for him. There you have a happy Eleggua!

This small altar is placed beside the computer, so I can look at him while I work. Eleggua is sitting over a drop-dead gorgeous needlelace doilly, which was a gift from my dearest online friend and ultra-gorgeous textile artist, Krista Raak, and that is one of the most delicate and beautiful pieces of needlework I have seen in my life.

I would like to say a big thank you to all the friends worldwide who sent good wishes and prayers for us during this storm, specially through Facebook – your positive energies were greatly appreciated and needed! Though we had some damage on our patio roof, and it’s not going to be cheap or easy to repair, it could have been much, much worse. We are deeply thankful to the Orishas, and to all of you, for your support and good thoughts. We are very lucky to have you!

Plans for today? Undecided yet. I’m feeling the need to start a new doll…

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New Original Paintings Listed

Marie Laveau

Marie Laveau’s legend is one of the most fascinating in the history both of Voodoo and of New Orleans. Born a free woman of colour, with black, white and Indian blood on her veins, Marie grew from being a widowed hairdesser to become the most famous Voodoo queen ever. I feel a strong bond to her story, and I have painted her several times already, always looking to reflect not only her famous beauty, but also her mystery. Here you can see her dressed as those who met her remembered her, in her blue cotton dress and with her snake, which she called “Zombi”. I have also added a cockatoo on her shoulder as all parrots are a symbol of the divine messengers in Voodoo.
Eleggua

Eleggua is my patron Orisha, so he is without a doubt the Orisha I have painted more times in the last ten years. His mystery as owner of luck and fate has always fascinated me, and what better way than painting it when searching for answers… Dressed in the traditional Cuban outfit, consisting on an embroidered vest and red satin head scarf, he holds the key to the future in his hands, looking at us with a mischievou grin. This trickster deity always speaks in riddles – whoever solves his riddles, gets his blessings forever.

You can find both original paintings available, and prints of each painting, at The Hoodoo Shop at Etsy.

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