Introduction to Obeah - What is Obeah?

Last Updated on July 27, 2022 by Wishbonix

The world consists of both the spiritual realm and the physical realm, which is definitely a fact that is undeniable. In every form of culture, among different kinds of people, including modern and ancient, there have been individuals who have managed to have the gift to explain or even tap into the metaphysical and spiritual forces. These are people who are known as the medicine men, shamans, rabbis, priests, and amongst people of Africa, the Obeah men.

What is Obeah?

Obeah is a form of magic and sorcery practices derived from Central and West African traditions mixed up with Christian influences, although to much less degree than Voodoo. It is practiced mainly in the Caribbean and is considered both white magic and black magic. It was brought to America by the Central enslaved Africans and was in mild conflict with another form of folk magic, Myal, delivered by the enslaved people from West Africa. The peak of this conflict took place in the mid of the XIX century in the English colonies, as the side effect of fanaticism and spiritualism caused by the appearance of the comet combined with Christian millennialism, resulting in disorders and violence. Many Myal men were arrested and sent to prisons, and because the world survived despite their fate, their beliefs were weakened, putting Obeah in the place of power.

In general, Obeah means not only a form of magic but also physical objects like talismans or charms used for magic by the priests, the Obeah men. Contrary to common belief, which made Obeah fearsome and evil, the bad reputation is mainly overestimated. Like in many other African-originated religious practices, Obeah also contains many forms of positive magic, like love spells, luck spells, and healing practices.

As in many other forms of folk magic, Obeah derives power from contacting spirits and deities (positive or negative) during rituals involving minerals, herbs, individual possessions, bodily fluids, or animal parts, as well as chants or other verbal actions.

How Obeah is Practiced

Obeah might be called a spiritual practice by some and a collection of beliefs by others. No matter how one defines it, one thing is clear; this is a spiritual practice with much to teach those not native to the area where it began. There are two sides to Obeah, the good side, and the dark side, just as in any magical practice. By realizing what Obeah is and how to practice it, you may be able to use this folk magic’s tools in your own life to help you create a better world for yourself and others.

The Recognition of Duality

While many spiritual practices might have two sides or two ways in which they are seen, Obeah is a faith that embraces both the dark and the light. Since you can not have one without the other, Obeah recognizes them as tools one can use to make a life change. When one can understand there may be dark forces in the world, one can actively seek to work against them. Instead of simply ignoring the bad, the Obeah practitioner can find ways to change it and block it from causing harm in one’s life.

The Use of Talismans in Magical Workings

One of the most common practices in Obeah is the use of talismans. The talisman is used in a magical ritual, infused with the energy of intention and the final desirable result. Once a spell’s energy is focused, you can move the energy into this inanimate object to help direct the energy to change the situation. In this way, you can carry the talisman as the spell is doing its work or place it at a specific location to help bring energy to the situation. For example, if you’re having trouble in the bedroom, you might create a talisman that you place under your pillow or on your nightstand to attract more lust or desire.

You can also use Talismans to remove things from your life; putting the unwanted energy into the talisman and then putting it far away from you can be very effective. Talismans and charms can also be used as jewelry to keep the intention of the spell close to your heart, allowing the energy to follow wherever you might go. Or you might give the talisman to someone else whom you want to attract to you. The uses of talismans are endless and can certainly help you bring the goodness you want in your life.

Increasing Luck and Abundance

Within the practice of Obeah is the promotion of luck and abundance. Obeah followers believe they can do things to increase their luck and ensure they have everything they want in life. They might perform rituals or dances to help improve their luck. Another common way to enhance luck is to give offerings to the deities to show them you are worthy of their help and their blessings.

With Obeah practices, you can begin to draw love into your life or any other positive situation you like. By focusing your energy and increasing your luck through charms and offerings, you can utilize the magic of the Obeah to help you bring more magic into your life.

Deities and Orishas in Obeah

If you are looking into using Obeah practices to help you with troubles in your life, you are one of many. This folk magic can help you bring luck, love, and prosperity into your life, even when you think there’s no hope. At the top of this spiritual practice are the deities, and the deities, watching over the people, though never directly interfering in their lives. In this structure, the people are given the power to change their own lives and to see how they can make changes to their minds and actions. As a result, they are responsible for their lives and the luck they create for themselves – or don’t. To help you with the practice of Obeah, here are the deities you will want to honor in your spells.

A Name is Tricky

You might notice when you read about the various deities in Obeah that their spellings can change depending on tradition and background. So, you may not find these spellings everything, though the other name you see will be the same deity. There are seven main deities in the Obeah practice.

Oshun

Oshun is a goddess of love, romance, wealth, beauty, abundance, and magical knowledge.

Oshun is the keeper of the waters and all the world’s waters. She is connected to the energy of love and would be the perfect deity to call on during a love spell. As a deity, she is associated with money and sexuality. She loves to be given offerings for her time, like honey or coins.

Also known as: Ochun, Oxum, Mama Cachita
Origin: Yoruba
Color: Yellow, gold, and orange
Consort: Shango
Crystal: Amber, coral
Day: Friday
Offerings: Honey, peeled oranges, make-up, mirrors, perfume, flowers, chamomile tea. Her favorite dish is spinach with shrimp.
Attributes: Peacock Feathers, Mirrors

Yemaya

Yemaya has also taken on the name of the Virgin Mary to protect her from other faiths who wish her to be gone. She is a mother figure who watches over women and all of the birth mysteries. She is a deity who should be called on for fertility and healing.

Also known as: Yemalla, Yemoja, Yemalia, Yemaja, Iemanja
Origin: Yoruba
Color: Blue, white
Consort: Aganju
Crystal: Quartz crystal, pearls, coral
Day: Saturday
Offerings: Jewelry, ocean-bearing gifts, perfume, white roses.
Attributes: Seashells, marine motifs

Oya

Oya is the woman warrior orisha of winds, storms, and hurricanes. Oya is the deity of power and might. When you want to add power and strength to your spells, this is a deity to make offerings to. As the Goddess of Storms, she is a protector, though she can also be angry sometimes.

Also known as: Insa, Yansa
Origin: Yoruba
Color: Maroon
Number: 9
Consort: Ogun
Day: Thursday
Offerings: Eggplant, starfruit, black-eyed peas, purple plums. The traditional offering is nine eggplants.
Attributes: Black horsetail switch, lightning bolt.

Shango

Shango is the mighty lord of Thunder, Lightning, and Fire. This deity is one of vengeance, one who is passionate and powerful. This deity watches over the lightning in the world as well as the dance. When a man has to look for forgiveness from a woman in a relationship, this is the deity to call upon. Petition to him to ask for fertility, luck in love, and male prowess. Invoke him for courage and justice.

Also known as: Chango, Xango, Oba Koso
Origin: Yoruba
Color: Red and white
Number: 6
Consort:
Day: Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday, depending upon the tradition
Offerings: Shango likes his food spic and his portions large. His favorite meals include yams, corn, peppers, and cooked crab. He likes to drink red wine, rum, and cachaca.
Attributes: Lightning, double-ax, club, mortar. Shango divines via a magic pestle.

Ogun

Another warrior deity that focuses on war and blood. He is also the deity of tools and industry, helping those in society to create and to fix things. When healing is needed, Ogun is a deity to ask to be a part of the spell. Ogun is the West African spirit of iron. He is a patron to iron-workers and shamans, sorcerers, healers, and ritual leaders.

Also known as: Ogou, Gu, Ogoun, Ogu
Origin: Yoruba
Color: Red, black, sometimes green
Numbers: 3, 7
Consort:
Day: Wednesday, sometimes Tuesday
Offerings: Red candles, cigars, rum, palm wine, whiskey, chains, metal tools, dragon blood incense. If you cook for him, he likes his food spice and adds lots of hot peppers or hot sauce.
Attributes: Machete, a three-legged iron cauldron, traditionally wrapped in chains and filled with iron tools, nails, and spikes.

Eshu Elegbara

Eshu is the master of the crossroads, lord of communications, and guardian of gates. Eshu watches over the gates of the world, guarding the space between worlds and being a messenger for the deities to the world. This spirit is the one you would call on in order to send a message or a request to another deity. Eshu will make sure the message arrives.

Also known as: Elegba, Elegua, Legba, Papa Legba, Atibon Legba
Origin: West Africa
Color: Red, black
Numbers: 3
Day: Monday
Offerings: Rum, candy, cigarettes, candy cigarettes, toys; he likes his food spicy, lace with hot sauce
Attributes: Key, cross, crutches, walking stick, cane

Obatala

Obatala is considered the Creator, the one over all others who has pieces of each of the other deities inside of himself. Practitioners of Obeah do not contact this god directly. Obatala is syncretized to Jesus Christ.

Also known as: Oxala
Color: White
Day: Sunday
Metals: Silver and white metals such as white gold, platinum, titanium
Offerings: Obatala likes milk, water, and coconut milk. He accepts the following offerings: white rice, coconuts, bananas, white bread, white cornbread, white sugar, and white flowers. He also likes extravagant gifts made of his metals.

By knowing more about the deities in Obeah, you can make sure you are calling on the proper deity to help you, no matter the situation. Learn about these deities and see which one seems most suited to aid your work.

Working with Obeah Spells

As a potent form of African folk magic, Obeah spells are one of the most powerful available to mankind, yet complex to cast. Despite some similarities to Voodoo and Santeria, Obeah is much less known and thus does not share their bad publicity. Obeah spells involve complex rituals and certain materials that have a powerful influence on a spell. Spells are passed down through generations only by word of mouth. The spells are a closely guarded secret that Obeah practitioners use for the benefit of mankind. Obeah spells are considered a spiritual contract between the priest and the person who desires a spell to be cast. They may involve using bodily fluids, herbs, personal possessions of the person on whom the spell is to be cast, and certain incantations. Very often, a dance is performed to invoke the spirits.

How Obeah Spells Work

The exact form of Obeah spells remains a mystery to those not initiated, but some rules are well known to all, and they are no different from all other African magic traditions. Obeah spells cannot harm anyone, cause negative side effects in the long term or trick the subject of the spell. The one wanting a spell to be cast is responsible for the effects, as the spell caster is only a medium to the spiritual forces of the world and is not personally involved in any way (The same rules apply, of course, to curses and any other negative spells). Still, just like in the case of other magic systems involving the spiritual world, Obeah spells can sometimes not work as expected, so we must be cautious about what we wish for. The effects will be beneficial, but we may still be a bit disappointed unless we make our wishes clear. An example of such surprise is a woman who wished for a truly loving companion. A week after the spell was cast, she found a dog. A good thing, to be sure, but not entirely what she wanted.

Obeah Spell to Remove Bad Luck

Removing bad luck in your life partly involves removing your belief that you have bad luck in the first place. Make a point of transcending any bad energy that can be sent your way.

Obeah Tree magic works well for breaking a streak of bad luck. Trees are purifying agents that have the type of energy that grounds you. This spell is a process spell which means that the magic is happening as you perform a specific action of gathering seven different twigs from different trees.

Ingredients for the Obeah Spell to Remove Bad Luck

Seven twigs
Bonfire

How to Cast the Spell to Remove Bad Luck

You go for a walk in the woods. Be sure to pick up seven twigs from seven different trees. A good approach is to pick up one willow, one oak, one chestnut, one maple, one yew, and one elder. What trees you will be able to access will probably have something to do with where you live.

Take the twigs home and burn them in a fireplace or hearth.

As this happening say:

Bad Luck Be Broken

As these Words Are Spoken

Then take them to the nearest stream or body of moving water and sprinkle the ashes to eliminate bad influences forever.

Obeah and Wanga

To truly understand Obeah, you need to witness it in action. Outside of that experience, describing Obeah doesn’t necessarily do it justice. While it might seem like this is a strange spiritual practice, far away from anything you may have experienced growing up, this magic is a magic that can help you to bring joy and comfort into your life. Folk magic connects with the simpler energies of life, helping to pull these energies and all of their aid into the universe to promote love, heal wounds, and to cure the sick. In many Obeah rituals, a practitioner may use a Wanga to focus their energy. This is what a wanga can help you do.

What is a Wanga?

Though the word ‘wanga’ might be new to most people, it is not an unfamiliar item. This item is a small packet that can be used as a magical charm. It might contain different herbs and powders or simply be empty. The wanga might be filled up during a ritual, bought from an Obeah practitioner, or made on one’s own at home. This packet need not be complicated or too ornate as it is simply a reflection of the energy needed for the spell to work. You can create a packet in any way, so long as you begin to infuse your energy into the packet, helping to make it unique to the situation and the spell you are trying to complete. You can use a wanga for a variety of different purposes.

Bring Yourself Luck

For most people who follow Obeah, the wanga will be used for bringing good luck to a spell. Though the spell itself may have been done perfectly, when it is not done with energy and emotion, it might not have enough luck to support it. With a wanga, you will be able to have a place where you can focus your energy and your intention. This way, you can carry the packet with you wherever you go, bringing yourself luck in all of your decisions and actions. Though the packet itself may not seem magical, holding it close to your person, as in a pocket, will help remind you of your spell and help it continue to work. These packets can also be placed in areas where you feel you need extra luck.

Healing the Sick

Many Obeah practitioners will use wangas to help heal the sick. By putting healing energy into the packet, the packet can then be put with the sick person until they are well. Or the packet can be infused with the disease and then thrown away to facilitate healing. In any case, the packet can be used to draw sickness out of a person and help the person begin to heal more rapidly. Choosing to use a wanga is quite common in Obeah healing practices. Putting healing herbs in the packet can be useful, as can putting herbs or other offerings in the packet to help entice the help of a deity or an ancestor. The more help can be drawn to the sick person, the better their luck will be to heal wounds or infections.

With Obeah, a person can begin to utilize nature to help them direct energy and change their lives. Though it might seem like the packet is just a small object with little power, that packet will be filled with your energy, which will undoubtedly help create a successful spell result.