Palo Mayombe orginated from the African Congo and is said to be the one world's most powerful and feared form of black magic. In Santeria religion there exists a dark side called Palo Mayombe. Individuals who practice this dark aspect are called Palero. Palo Mayombe has a very long and historical history. This magic was transported to the Caribbean during Spanish slave trade to Cuba and Puerto Rico in the 1500s.
The influence of Palo Mayombe can be found in Central America, Brazil and Mexico. Palo Mayombe in Brazil is Quimbanda. Quimbanda is a mixture of traditional Congo, indigenous in Native American and Latin American spiritualism.
The differences between Palo Mayombe and Santeria is the religion of Santeria uses the forces of light and the members of Palo Mayombe use ther forces of darkness to achieve their goals and magic spells. Palero practice extemely strong and powerful black magic. Many members of Santeria avoid being associated with Palo Mayombe. Palo Mayombe has its own priesthood and set of rules and regulations. Rules and regulations will vary according to the Palo Mayombe house to which an individual has been initiated into.
Palo Mayombe was integrated as part of the Santeria religion. It is an entirely different world, when having an experience outside of the Latin American spiritualism. It is rare to find a sincere individual in remote villages throughout Latin America and in the United States. There are several famous Palero priests as well as secret societies dedicated to the Palo Mayombe.
It has been preserved up to our times by the slaves who were imported to areas such as Brazil, Suriname, and Cuba, the latter being the place where Palo (also called Palo Monte) has become
most popular also among people of Hispanic descent.
Palo is a direct method of comunication with the Spirits: the belief is strongly animistic and similar to shamanism: all that exists is considered as animated by spirits, man in particular can become a doorway to other worlds through mediumship.
The spirits which are the most relevant for Palo are: the spirits of the Dead, the Spirits of Nature (which inhabit trees, plants, rocks, animals etc.), and the Highest Entities which manifest themselves in the Forces of nature (the Wind, the Lightning, the Sea, etc.) and in man.
The main worship and practice is being carried around the Nganga or Prenda, which is a consecrated cauldron filled (amongst other things...) with sacred earth, sticks (palos), and bones, and it is dedicated to a specifical spiritual energy.
This cauldron is also inhabited by the spirit of a Dead, which act as interface for all magical and religious activities which are performed on the Nganga. Due to religious syncretism a lot of elements foreign to the original African tradition may be present in the ceremonies, such as the use of the symbol of the christian
cross, images of saints (these much more common in the Palo families of Venezuela and Colombia), and even using names and attributes of Orishas to describe/call the Enkisi, which are the Gods of Palo, the powerful Entities which are submitted to the High God Zambi or Ensambi.
The Palero works with spirits of Light (Ensambi) or of the Darkness (Endoki). The latter being also the denomination for the Paleros which do not use christian symbols in their practice of Palo.
To be initiated in Palo is necessary to undergo a ceremony called "Rayamiento" which means "scratching", where special marks are traced on the skin of the new adept: a pact is made with the spirit who lives in the cauldron, this ritual is also called "to swear with the Nganga". From now on, the person who has received
"Rayamiento" will be under the protection of the Nkisi who rules the Nganga of his/her Godfather.
The next step in the religion is becoming a Tata (Father), or Yaya (Mother) and receiving a cauldron.
Divination is used to determine which "path" of the Palo Entities is the most appropriate for the new Nganga. A new ceremony is done where the Tata will swear to the Dead (Enfumbe) living in the Nganga so that it may help with the spiritual and material development of the new full-fledged palero/a.
The divination method is called Kujamputu or Chamalongo, and the basic patterns are identical to Obi/Coco
Santeria divination. Because of Kardecian syncretism in many Houses of Palo (Covens submitted to one God-
father or Godmother) a Spiritual Misa is acted before the initiation, in order to identify the main spirits which
will help to develop one's life. These guides often speak also through possession, and may give direct advice.
Sources:
https://aminoapps.com/c/mythfolklore/amp/blog/palo-mayombe/1DgR_l0t6ueg8b0ZpX4QjnajaWNzrDx6e
Wikipedia, Google Images, http://www.angelfire.com/weird/santocristo/IntroPalo.html, http://www.palomayombe.net/About_Us.html.
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