Hoping this gives you some food for thought :) :
This has been a testing week, to say the least. Someone we really love has been going through hell and needed immediate spiritual guidance to get his life back on track, so we have been working as full-time guardian angels this week, taking him before Eleggua for a good cleansing as he had been seriously hoodooed, then taking him to the beach to receive Yemaya’s blessing, then to the cemetery to meet Oya and the Spirits, and still next week we will take him to the forest to commune with Oggum and our Guanche ancestors. All of that while keeping the shop and consultants attended – that means we’ve been working double each and every single day. But, that’s the work of the healer! There are no holidays, and when someone is broken to his very core and has lost everything, you simply can’t look other way and pretend it’s not happening. And, in case you were wondering, we are not getting a cent from him; we were asked to do this for free by Eleggua himself, and what Eleggua asks for, Eleggua gets.
Our friend is someone with a very special light, with the potential of a healer, and that kind of people is always an easy prey for people with no scruples when it comes to Magick. People tend to think that those who practise negative magick are really wealthy and have no enemies because they infuse fear unto people – but the truth is that they are always struggling to survive, preying over other people’s money like vultures, always unhappy and needing more, and more. And to be honest, that kind of people do not scare me one bit. I’m not as good as to feel mercy for them, but on the other they do not scare me at all; I am so sure that Eleggua and all the other Orishas will not allow any harm to come to us, that simply there is no room for any worry.
The best part of it, certainly, has been having the chance to see my beloved Yemanya and Oya. We took offerings for both of them, gathered some graveyard dirt and took lots of beautiful pictures – which we won’t show to protect our friend’s privacy, and our sacred places’ privacy too. Although very tired, we are renewed and relaxed. I was born in a small town beside the sea, and my grandma’s house was 20 steps away from the sand, so the beach is a second home to me.
Last night, Fernando said that, at the cemetery, he felt the urge to start fixing all the broken crosses and abandoned graves – something we couldn’t do because there were people around and we didn’t want them calling the cops (hehe), but that made me so proud of him! We will come back tomorrow with our witchy friend, carrying flowers and candy for the dead, who asked for them very clearly while we were there.
Our friend found a domino piece in the graveyard, a message from Shango, telling him that everything will be ok. If you didn’t know, dominoes are sacred in Santeria, and when I read him the meaning of the piece he found – which fitted his situation and needs perfectly – he started crying.
Here are the lessons this week has given to us, and that I am sharing with you:
- First, the sad lessons – first, that there are people out there who simply care about nothing but getting their way, even if it means destroying others in the way; second, that the belief that you are safe from negative magick if you don’t believe in it, is nothing but ignorance.
Now, the happier lessons:
- The Orishas are nothing but LOVE. No matter how much you have done wrong, how much you have lost, how badly you have behaved, the Orishas will accept you and care for you if your commitment to change is pure and strong.
- Once you have received the Orishas’ blessings, it is your duty to show others that it is possible to find protection and growth in them. If something has saved you, it may save others. Of course, this does not include proselytism! Faith should never be forced onto people, or it will never be faith at all.
- The Orishas speak loud and clear, if you are there to listen. There is no such thing as blind faith in Santeria, because there is no need at all to be blind. True faith comes from understanding, feeling and witnessing the connection at all levels, and not from theoretical ideas that must be accepted without questioning.
Wow… I’m almost speechless here. Thank you so much for sharing this experience with us.
There is so much truth in what you say about the lessons the week has given, both good and bad.
I have seen and experienced first hand the toxicity and damage that is done by that sort of people. It can be devastating to mind, body and even soul and I’m glad your friend had you and Fernando to help him heal and move on.
And that tidbit on dominoes in Santeria was quite interesting, I had no idea of that!
I’m very intrigued by what you said about the dead asking for flowers and candy very clearly. It’s something I’ve experienced as well. It wasn’t flowers and candy but I sometimes get very clear requests of specific items.
I remember once that one of my mother’s friends whose mother had died being very distressed of dream she had. Her mother was asking her to give away her favourite scarf that she used to wear all the time when she was alive. She said she’d like to carry it with her and to give it away in her name. She had that dream three times and then at our suggestion she finally gave the scarf away in her mother’s name. Much later on, when this was almost forgotten her mother appeared in her dreams again smiling and wearing the scarf.
Reading your post brought back so many memories… there’s a lot of emotion going on right now, forgive me for the babbles!
Much love to you!
I’m very sorry to here about your friend but I know that he is good protective hands with you! I will keep him in my prayers so he can overcome this.
Ashe!
I hope that all goes well with your dear friend. He is very lucky to have two people who care so deeply for him.
You’re quite correct that true faith comes from understanding and active involvement with the spiritual connection. What you’ve been doing this week is the true work of any healer or teacher. Abundant blessings to you! :-)
Just beautiful and beautiful kind souls. May your friend heal and overcome all his obstacles.
Thanks so much, all of you, for your beautiful and thoughtful comments! I will extend your good thoughts to our friend today, I am sure he will be very grateful!
Bless you & Fernando for all you do, dear one.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful thoughts and I hope things go better for your friend. I know you and Fernando will be blessed for all the good you do and the friendship you give. ^_^
You have a gigantic heart, full of the good stuff