Commission of the Congo. You can't go wrongo with the Congo.

The Temple's Botanica! More coming soon!

In Puerto Rican/Voudou or Sanse, the Indio Commission is the waters by which the Cosmic Loa, Gran Simbi Rey del Aqua, also known as the Taino Skyfather, Yocahu, rains down his divine influence over the tradition. So prevalent within Puerto-Rican Spiritism, the Indio commission has within it a near stand-alone and separate tradition of Indio spirituals. However, as watery as Sanse is, Puerto Rican Voudo is not without its fire. 

Enter the Commission of the Congo spirits. 

The Congo spirits are the dynamic and oppositional force to the Indios. Rather than calm and still, the Congos are aggressive and often restless spirits, eager to work and prove their strength and well-deserved reputation. The Commission of the Congos is a large and diverse one. A giant spiritual court consisting of warriors, hunters, sorcerers-witch doctors, Kings, Queens, slaves, and herbalists. Many Congo spirits come through other courts such as the Slaves, Madamas and Madamos, and the Court of the Shamans. 

The Congo spirits are famous for their formidability, courage, and tenacity. The spiritual equivalent of Pitbulls. If there was a"left" hand path of Sanse or Puerto Rican Voudo (there isn't, but "if" there was), the Congos would be that path. The Court of the Indios are not to be trifled with, but there is something a wee-bit spicier, and the sting a little bit sharper when the Congos perform their labors.  

When you look at a traditional Puerto Rican Voudo altar, you will see Indios on the floor to the right of the table, and on the left side, Congos on the ground. These two mighty commissions act as the stabilizing pillars of Sanse, balancing and activating each other. The water and the fire, creating steam and steam the active agent for all the spirits to interact. The Congos make sure the Indios don't get too complacent, and Indios ensure the Congos don't just run wild.

Another interesting thing to consider is that Sanse is a Loa driven tradition, not Orisha. Most of the New World and African Diasporic slaves were from Western Africa. The mixing of Congo and Dahomey spiritualities gave birth to Voudo and Haitian Voudou being the lineage from which the Petro Loa came to earth. The Petro Loa are served through Congo means and with Congo inspired songs and drumbeats.

The inclusion of the Congo Commission and its placement within Puerto Rican Voudo is no mistake and undoubtedly no coincidence. Sanse does not deal specifically with the Petro Loa like Haitian or Dominican Voudo does and most definitely not as the secret societies of Haiti such as Makaya, Zobop, Loupgarou, or Bizango do. Still, their influence can be brought down by a Chief Loa and their flavor detected in the Congo Commission.  

Without the Congo court, Sanse would belong to the Orisha via the Court of the Africanos, and be more similar to Afro/Brazilian spiritists faiths such as Umbanda or Candomble. 

The Congos are breakers of black magic and curses par-excellence. They lift hexes and resolve causes with ease. Watching them defeat evil is like observing a big scary scorpion be unmercifully swarmed and devoured by thousands of Army ants. Enemies can throw their worst. It matters not. The Congo spirits overwhelm whatever is sent, then follow its trail back to whoever sent it. 

As a priest or Tata of Palo Mayombe, any Mayombe ceremony I preform is a Congo spiritism session in the purest sense. However, even those who are not initiated into Mayombe can still perform very effective Congo spiritualist sessions through Sanse, or Puerto Rican Voudou. After Baptism, one could receive a Cauldero Espiritual or Spiritual Cauldron. The Cauldero Espiritual is a bloodless version of the N'ganga or Prenda used in Palo Mayombe. A strong focal point for the Congo spirits and the counterweight to the Indio Pot. 

Similar to how I conduct weekly Indio Cordons, I do the same with Congo spiritist sessions and for the exact same reasons. I believe the cleansing and tempering with hot and cold energies, water (Indio), and fire (Congo) make me a stronger medium, priest, warrior, man, and ultimately human. This frequent application of alchemical temperance makes it damn near impossible to hurt me spiritually. I'll admit, I enjoy hearing about the continual mishaps and calamities which befall my enemies. In fact, ruination has become so commonplace for a few of my enemies I can now tell which is an Indio or a Congo version of returning their evil upon them.  

All they need to do it stop coming at me.  

The Court of the Congo spirits is served with red and black. They enjoy Tobacco, water, spiced rum, and okra. They really like hit black coffee with a little dark rum and three red chili peppers in it. 

Offer the Prayer to the Congo Spirit and start drumming a congo beat or turn on some Congo drum music. The Congo speak through the earth and fire, the flowing of the blood and the dripping of sweat. Rhythmically sway and use your hands and fingers to play different beats on your body (you are a drum... a profound mystery there). Through movement and heat, the Congo interface.

Prayer to the Congo Spirit

Oh Glorious Congo Spirit, for your virtues, you have entered the Kingdom of Heaven. You have obtained the Holy Blessings of God. You are a leader of the heavenly commission of spirits, and you are surrounded by Angels.

I an admirer of your strength and courage, knowledge, and wisdom, ask in the name of the Father, Mother, Son, and Holy Spirit that you fill my body with your powers and help me in separating the evil thoughts my enemies send towards me.

Free me Oh Congo from the snare of the Devil, and the embrace of his demons. Vanish from me all evil spirits and bind their hands and feet, may they never reach me.

Oh, Glorious Congo, With you at my side, I shall defeat my enemies, and with your strength, I shall overcome all my obstacles. With your sublime powers that have been given to you by God, I ask that you help me with my daily needs.

Guard my home against envy, jealousy, and bad faith, and free me of all negative influences. I light this candle in your honor and ask that you illuminate my path. Amen.

Another prayer, lesser-known, but quite common in my temple, is the Prayer to the Black Christ. The world Christ mysteries have remained largely secret and little by little I will reveal what I can. However, any people who suffered have their own redeemers. These redeemers will hear the prayers of anyone and seek to help and give protection and elevation. The people of the Congo are no different. Speak this prayer too.

Prayer to the Black Christ Congo Spirit

Oh Divine redeemer from the Congo,

Oh Divine redeemer from the Congo,

Oh Divine redeemer from the Congo,

You who have suffered every ignominy,

I beg of you not to allow the same to occur to me, oh friend.

May my mate remain true. May my belief not be threatened,

May you guide my every step,

May all bad things stay away, and all good people come my way.

Grant me luck in all my endeavors.

Peace at work and in the street,

and keep my family on the straight path.

The Sanse practiced at my Temple is advanced, becoming better and more refined. My Temple and I will continue to revere the Commission of Congo spirits, developing and progressing spiritually while offering prayers for the advancement of everyone else. Interested in learning authentic Sanse, Puerto-Rican Voudou, and Congo Spiritism? Consider joining our Temple. 

Ayibobo

-Papa Machete que ganas todas las Batallas

The Machete leads the way and defends all who follow.

Papa Machete que ganas todas las Batalas is a world-renown circus trained Strongman, Occultist, Martial Artist, Remote-Viewer, Psychic Investigator, researcher, Voudou and Palo Mayombe Priest, author, activist, and adventurer. Spiritual Father of the Temple of the Machete Who wins all Battles, and offers services through his Online Shop. Papa Machete welcomes all people, of any race, gender, orientation, or ability. His only conditions are that you love God, love humanity, and are willing to stand for what is truly right, not just what is popular.

Three lines of New World Voudo but one fight for humanity!

New World Voudou is religion founded in the Diaspora. Haitian Voudou is best known, but there are three primary lines of Voudou. Dominican, Haitian, and Puerto Rican. All three lines of New World Voudou are monotheistic. God is absolute, ineffable, flawless, and eternal. In Haiti, God is Papa Bondye, in Dominican and Puerto Rican lines, God is Papa Bon Dios. They are the same God; only the French and Spanish languages denote a difference.

Voudou is a spiritual counter to the institution of slavery. For humanity to advance, the keeping of slaves (a world-wide practice) needs to be globally outgrown. In the Diaspora, the forced culmination of cultures, namely African, European, and Native Islander created a perfect storm. All three cultures had a societal elite who engaged in selling their people as slaves. All three cultures had people who experienced the horrors of this trade. All three cultures came to mingle on the Island of Hispanola (Haiti/Dominican Republic) and right next door the Island of Puerto Rico.

The spiritual practices of each culture came to bear against one another. But instead fighting for dominance, an act of divine intercession occurred. All three divinities merged and found that cooperative action is best of the survival of their respective people.

In my lineage of Voudou, there is a story which best describes this situation. Other houses have the iconography, but they do not seem to know the story. Out of love and respect for Voudou, I will share the story to once and for all erase the notion Voudou is only for certain people.  In Dominican Voudou and Puerto Rican Voudou, the image of Our Lady of Charity hovering over three men in a boat is a prevalent one. But ask who those men are, and you likely will draw blank stares and cryptic answers.

They are the Three-Johns. Black John, Indio John, and White John. Representatives of the Africans, the Natives, and the Europeans cultures. They find themselves all in the same boat as slaves. None of them asked to be there, none of them want to be there, and none of them particularly like one another. The only thing they share is the desire to go home. All three men are paddling in a different direction, each towards their respective homeland.

A storm blows in, and the ocean gets choppy.  Each John rows harder and harder, but still, the boat goes nowhere. Each John begins to pray in their native tongue for divine intercession. A woman appears above them, and the storm calms. Black John sees her as Yemaya. Indio John sees her as Attaberia, and White John recognizes Mother Mary. None of them are wrong.

Our Lady of Charity tells the Three-Johns they can never return to the world they once knew. However, they could go home in the New World, but only together. The skies clear, and the New World, the shore of the Americas lay insight. They begin to paddle in the same direction not just as three men but now as three brothers.

New Word Voudou was born, one-third African, one-third Indio, and one-third European. Anyone saying that New World Voudou is only for certain people is ignorant of the religion. They do not speak for the Loa, The Cemis, the Saints or any of the 21 Commissions of Spirits. No way do they speak for God! New World Voudou belongs to the New World and all its people. There is no chosen race, and there is no chosen one. God's chosen people are all people.

God, PapaBon Dios, or Papa Bondye is a mystery which is simply beyond human comprehension. Therefore God delegates power, in a descending hierarchical fashion, to beings who we can comprehend. In New World Voudou, there are three beings, or Loa, which are the closest to God that humans can understand and to us appear directly under God. All three Loa have direct ties to the sun of our solar system and operate on a cosmic level.

They are:

Gran Solier is the light of the sun.
Gran Toro Sentao is the heat of the sun.
Gran Simbi Rey Del Agua also known as King Monlinu, is the sun's light sparkling on the waters.

Only in the most exceedingly rare circumstance would they directly intervene in human affairs. It is a near certainty they would not directly communicate with humans either, as humans are not advanced enough to make sense of their language. These Loa speak through other Loa. Loa who have the ears to hear them and the tongue to communicate to humans.  That is not to say Gran Solier, Gran Simbi or Gran Toro are not reachable by prayers, it just goes chain of command and similarly back down.

We can see the Three Brothers, the Three Johns, as a microcosm to the macrocosm of Three Gran Loa.

Gran Solier-White John-European Culture
Gran Toro Sentao- Black John-African Culture
Gran Simbi Rey Del Aqua- Indio John-Indo Culture

It is through the will of God and transmissions of there three powerful Gran Loa that New World Voudou came into being. Going a step further, we can see the difference between these transmissions as the crystallized up the material plane, each with the same mission, but in its specific way.

Gran Toro Sentao

Haitian Voudou is most certainly the purest transmission of Gran Toro Sentao, the most African in tradition and line of Voudou where animal sacrifices are most common. It was from Gran Toro Sentao the mighty Petro Loa where born. The Petro answered the call for revolution against tyranny and demanded the blood of former slaver masters as payment for the petition.

Gran Solier

Dominican Voudou is the transmission of Gran Solier. European spiritist practices of Alan Kardec and the Mes Blanca or White Table serving as the foundation for Dominican Voudou. A backdrop for the prismatic spray of 21 colors, each containing the specific frequency for a particular Division of Loa. The oldest of the three lines of New World Voudou, Dominican or 21 Divisions Voudou, gave the order of hierarchy for its younger siblings.

Gran Simbi Rey del Agua

Puerto Rican Voudou, also known as Sanse, is guided and influenced most strongly by Gran Simbi Del Agua or King Molinu. Also seen as Yo-Cha-Hu, the Great Sky Father of the Taino peoples and head of the Cemi, the spirits of the Taino. In Sanse there is not only the Divison of the Indio headed by the Indo Loa Tinjo Alawe but the Commission of the Indio Spirits. The Cemi are honored side by side with the Loa and the Saints. Puerto Rican Voudou adopted much from Taino spiritual practices. The enlisting of Tobacco as a spiritual emissary, blowing a conch shell to call the spirits and making clay or gourd pots to house and honor the dead. The practice of Indio and Creole spiritism, a more informal method of spiritism is also employed, asking for Cordon, or protection of the Indio and Creole spirits specifically.





These three specific transmissions of New World Voudou allow the religion to serve as many people as possible. Each person has a unique frequency and will better resonate with one of the three transmissions of New World Voudou over the others. All three serve as launchpads for spiritual growth and evolution, and all three are open to all peoples.

I am a priest of Puerto-Rican Voudou, Sanse, 7 Loa, and 21 Commissions under God. My First Godfather with whom I spent 20 years was a Houngan Asogwe, highest level priest of Haitian Voudou. He died in 2009, and due to political turmoil in Haiti and travel bans by the State Dept, I was never able to Kanzo, or initiate into Haitian Voudou, in Haiti. My Godfather walks with me as a power Ghede Loa, a mentor, advisor, and protector.  Through his influence, the spicy flavor of Haitian Voudou blends beautifully with the powerful Puerto Rican line of Voudou I have inherited.

The Loa love humanity, despite our faults and flaws, they see the depth of love we are capable of.  God is the master of us all, a master which gives us the ability to change what we do not like and learn from our sufferings. When a man screams at God, "how could you let this happen," God cries back, "how could you let that happen." We are not powerless, and we are not meant to be victims. God's power and divinity run through us all. We create a heaven or a hell on earth, individually and collectively, with each movement and with each breath.

The Loa says the more we recognize God in each other, the more we can come to know God, both individually and collectively. If God's mission is that we all go to Heaven, it cannot be accomplished until we all see God in each other. Each of us builds Heaven for ourselves, individually and collectively.  Thus we are all in Heaven with God, eventually.

New World Voudou is a rare treasure, like the Christian Jesus, it was born in the most humble and expected of places. Just as the Christian Jesus, New World Voudou has been hated and persecuted by the ruling powers of the day. They fear New World Voudou's proven power to not only sparkle revolution but topple tyrants.  New World Voudou is not a slave religion. New World Voudou is a religion of former slaves, slaves who ripped their freedom back and even served the hand which held it from them.

The Petro Loa were essential in the most successful slave revolt in modern human history. But that was just Haiti, the entire earth and all her people suffer under the rule of elite slave masters. The Loa are ready to begin a campaign of a global slave revolt. No matter what transmission of New World Voudou resonates with you best, I hope I see you on the front lines. There is a battle for total human freedom and spiritual evolution, and just like in Haiti, the Loa mean to be victorious.

*Be sure the check the date of this blog post because you are certain to hear what I just posted from others who steal from my blogs in an attempt to gain even a modicum of credibility...and honestly can you blame them?

Ayibobo

Papa Machete que gana todas las batalas

The Machete leads the way and defends all who follow.

Papa Machete gue gana todas las batalas.

Papa Machete que ganas todas las Batalas is a world-renown circus trained Strongman, Occultist, Martial Artist, Remote-Viewer, Psychic Investigator, researcher, Voudu and Palo Mayombe Priest, author, activist, and adventurer. Spiritual Father of the Temple of the Machete Who wins all Battles, Papa Machete welcomes all people, of any race, gender, orientation or ability. His only conditions are that you love God, love humanity and are willing to stand for what is truly right, not just what is popular, especially in this twisted and cowardly society of self-entitled weaklings.