Palo Mayombe
Palo Mayombe, Palo simply called, is a syncretic Afro-American religion practiced in Cuba , close to Santeria and Candomble , he is African shamanistic beliefs mixed elements of spiritualism , of magic and Catholicism.
Palo is a tradition from the Congo brought to Cuba by slaves from the beginning of the XVIth century. The practice revolves around a central theme, "Nganga", or mind-power, built in a ritual and a very specific theme, which manipulates the priest "el Tata" (father) to invoke the dead in conjunction with the forces of nature and the spirits who died (spiritual guides). Religion is secret and initiatory, the disciple gets his instruction from a teacher who reveals the secrets of natural forces, codes, language and ritual ceremonies at very high sounding Bantu. The Palero is both a healer, diviner, and priest with a priestly function and social well-rooted in the Afro-Cuban culture.
Unlike the original which is Santeria Yoruba, Palo works by manipulating two forces, the Light (Nsambi) and Darkness (Ndoki) for their application for a particular purpose. Cosmology Palo entirely Bantu origin, is connected to the story of "Rama" or branches of palo which were implanted by different tribes, each with its unique language and ritual.
In his work, and uses Palero refers constantly through the ritual language, the natural places, animals, trees, plants and spirits to "push" work magic. All things visible and invisible, whether positive or negative, is imbued with the Palo power and intelligence, and can be invoked.
There are several steps in the initiation, called rayamiento "which is a ritual marking body and" put on the alert "or takes a pact between the adept, his own spiritual guide, his teacher called" padrino "(godfather ) and the spirit of Nganga (also called caldero, Gando, fundamento, kindembo, prenda ...)
Each Nganga is recognized as a sacred object and alive, representing the powerful forces of nature, and is honored with songs, sacrifices, dances and drums for the spirits to manifest themselves into a trance by the priests. Palo is open to men and heterosexual women only (in contrast to the Santeria initiates homosexuals), while women are restricted in their use of Nganga.
The temple's deepest palo is her origin itself: the forest (el monte) and its mysteries, the seat of Ceiba tree, the true "axis mundi" between the upper and lower worlds and object of worship itself.
Bantu religion is present in Cuba, Haiti and Brazil.
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