Palo Mayombe, the garden of blood and bones : a grammar of the Creole sorcery of Palo Mayombe

Palo Mayombe: The Garden of Blood and Bones is an initiate's account of this much maligned cult whose central nigromantic mystery is the prenda, the cauldron containing the human skull or bones, reanimated by living spirit. Nicholaj de Mattos Frisvold traces the roots of Palo Mayombe back to Kongolese sorcery, the warrior and leopard societies, and the impact of the Portugese Mission. The original African faith is carried in chains across the abysmal waters of Kalunga and it flowers in Cuba as a New World Creole religion and cult. Yet Palo Mayombe can only be truly understood in the light of a highly developed African cosmology. In drawing parallels with the ancient Greek practice of necromancy, and the grimoire tradition, Frisvold also considers the Western tradition, showing what we have lost in our denial of the dead and the cult of the ancestors. The magical head of Palo Mayombe in its three-legged iron cauldron has implications for understanding our own histories, whether Odin, Baphomet, Bran, John the Baptist or Orpheus. The Misa Espiritual suggests one way in which we can reforge that vital connection and resurrect both our dead and ourselves. The Garden of Blood and Bones gives explicit detail of the workings of Palo Mayombe for good and ill, the method of divination, the herbs, animals, trees and plants, powders, baths and waters, the songs and chants. It presents a complete living system one which embraces both the arts of healing and resurrection, and those that remove life. This study confronts the sinister and violent aspects of the cult, but rather than purveying lurid sensationalism expresses the deep dignity and integrity of its nature; it is intended to serve as a guide for practising Paleros and those seeking initiation. With access to rare materials, pamphlets, booklets and unpublished field notes, this is the most comprehensive study of Palo Mayombe to date. Santeros and practitioners of Vodou will also find much to ponder within these pages. Nicholai De Mattos Frisvold traces the roots of Palo Mayombe back to Kongolese sorcery, the warrior and leopard societies, and the impact of the Portugese Mission. The original African faith is carried in chains across the abysmal waters of Kalunga and it flowers in Cuba as a New World Creole sorcery. This is an initiate's account of a much maligned religion and cult whose central mystery is the prenda, the cauldron containing the human skull or bones, re-animated by living spirits. The Garden of Blood & Bones gives explicit details of the workings of Palo Mayombe for good and ill: the method of divination, the herbs, animals, trees and plants, powders, baths and waters, the songs and chants. It presents a complete living system, one which embraces both the arts of healing and resurrection, and those that remove life. This is a serious study which confronts the sinister and violent aspects of the cult, but rather than purveying lurid sensationalism expresses the deep dignity and integrity of its nature. In drawing parallels with both the Ancient Greek practices of Necromancy and Nigromancy, and the grimoire tradition, Frisvold also illuminates the Western Tradition, showing what we have lost in our denial of the dead and the cult of the ancestors. Yet Palo Mayombe can only be truly understood in the light of a highly developed African cosmology. This is a book written from inside the cult, and will serve as a guide for practising Paleros and those seeking initiation. With access to rare materials, pamphlets, booklets and unpublished field notes, this is the most comprehensive study of Palo Mayombe to date. This book details the very explicit history of how the religion of Palo Mayombe was carried over from Africa on Slaveships and how the Bantu culture and language was preserved by the erstwhile pursuits of men and women who remained true to the their practice and to the continued initiations into houses of regal lineage. This book is an invaluable tool for anyone wanting to know more about the factual history of Palo Mayombe and the actual practices, techniques, and instruments that go into the complete customs that are upheld until today by Palos and Paleras all over the United States and surrounding islands in the Carribbean as well as South America, and other places. Palo is seen as the antithesis to Santeria, where practitioners of Santeria claim Palos and Paleras are engaging in Black Magic, a sort of nefarious evil sister to the light-exalting Santeria, even though, a lot of the same rites and rituals partaken in Santeria are also present in Palo Mayombe. It is a generational hatred that dates back to the days of the early conquistadors where the Spanish soldiers tried to divide the medicine workers and shaman from having congenial relations with one another by creating fictional stories of night time rendezvous with Satan itself. This smear campaign took place within both camps, Santeria and Palo.