-
Cleansing and Protection
-
Used in rituals to cleanse the body or space of negative energy.
-
Believed to ward off evil spirits and spiritual attacks.
-
Often used in combination with other herbs during purification rituals.
-
-
Offering and Sacrifice
-
Commonly presented as an offering to deities, ancestors, or spirits.
-
Often the first item offered in libation ceremonies to invite spiritual presence.
-
-
Truth and Justice
-
Used in oaths or truth declarations; believed that lying after invoking it invites spiritual consequences.
-
Employed in traditional conflict resolution or when taking a spiritual vow.
-
-
Initiation and Rituals
-
Plays a key role in initiation rites, especially in traditional religious systems like Ifá.
-
Used to "open the way" spiritually, symbolizing welcome and respect.
-
-
Fertility and Blessings
-
Symbol of fertility and abundance; sometimes used in marriage or naming ceremonies.
-
Believed to attract good fortune, blessings, and spiritual favor.
-
-
Divination and Communication
-
Used by traditional healers and diviners to enhance communication with the spiritual world.
-
Sometimes chewed or used in spiritual consultations for heightened intuition.
-
? How It’s Used Spiritually
- Whole Pod Use: Often broken or split ceremonially with a spoken intention or prayer.
- Chewing and Spitting: Practitioners may chew and spit it to seal words or pronounce blessings or curses.
- Burning: Sometimes burned during prayer or ritual to carry intentions into the spirit realm.
