Psychic Readings and Afro-Brazil Divinations! More about the complex and ancient Afro-Brazil psychic readings and divination traditions.

Afro-Brazil Psychic Readings & Divinations

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About Afro-Brazil Psychic Readings and Ancient Divination

The article on Afro-Brazil Psychic Readings and Ancient Practitioner Divinations was graciously provided by Kimbandeiro Mario dos Ventos as a courtesy to the clients of Erzulie’s Authentic Voodoo and Magical Boutique in hopes of informing them on this ancient, complex psychic reading and divination tradition!

 

Afro-Brazil Psychic Readings & Divinations: Origins, History and Traditions

 

Kimbanda is a complex Afro-Brazilian Witchcraft Tradition, an amalgamation of African and Amerindian beliefs and religion as well as Medieval European Witchcraft of the Iberian Peninsula. Unlike other European Countries, Portugal only rarely executed people during the time of the Inquisition. Confessions and verdicts show that many who were found guilty of practicing the Magical Arts were exiled to the Portuguese Colonies of Angola and Brazil. One of them was Antonia Fernandes, known as Nobrega, who claimed to have been taught her witchcraft directly from the world of spirit. Another one, Maria Gonçalves, a skilled spirit medium and wise-woman, also claimed allegiance with the forces of European Witchcraft after being exiled to Brazil. These and many other similar records can be found in the archives of the Holy Office of the Catholic Church in Brazil.

 

Kimbanda is not so much a religion but first and foremost a spiritual practice and witchcraft-tradition. This tradition was only given a name approximately 100 years ago. As with many other self-contained practices and traditions, the followers of this tradition never had any need to describe or define their practice to the outside world with terms other then 'witchcraft'. Due to its deep African influences, Kimbanda is in many ways similar to the Cuban tradition of Palo Mayombe and Palo Kimbisa.

TThe pantheon of Kimbanda is made up of the Nkisi (higher spirits) of the African Bantu tribes and also incorporates entities called Exu and Pomba Gira, who are unique to this type of Brazilian Spirituality. Sometimes called the hot-blooded God and Goddess of Love and Lust, these entities are widely approached in matters of love, money, happiness and general improvement of all areas of life but also lend their aid in healing work and divination.
As early as 1640 we find records collected by the Holy Office in Lisbon, which mention an entity called Maria Padilha, who is referred to as 'Witch-Mother'. 

The same entity is known in Kimbanda as Pomba Gira Maria Padilha and is seen as a powerful witch and sorceress. This same Maria Padilha seems to have been a real person, lover of the Spanish King Pedro I of Castile, who ruled ca 1350 C.E.!

As will all other African Traditional Religions, the highest spiritual authority of this tradition is God - called Nzambi in Kimbanda. This is not just to be understood symbolically. Exus and Pomba Giras in possession will sometimes refer to Nzambi as their highest authority. During rituals God’s name is invoked but God is believed to work through his ‘ambassadors’ - the ancestors and other spirit beings. Until the second half of the 20th century, all Afro-Brazilian religions were considered criminal activity by the Brazilian government and periodically repressed.

More recently they have become part of popular culture as many novelists and songwriters have written or sung about them. Another term commonly used for Kimbanda is Macumba. This is a reference to crude, simple magical working, and was originally applied to Congo related practices in Brazil. It is still widely used to refer to any ritual or religion of African origin (as slang).