La Velada (The Vigil) in Latin American folk magic

Mirror Horror Aesthetic
by Anne P.

Recently, I performed a type of Latin American divination. I was able to diagnose a spell on a client. It’s called a Velada (vigil). This isn’t something you’re likely to find on the internet. So instead of adding this to the account I am going to share later, I thought it would be better to write about this separately.

This ritual is done with the picture of a person who is alive. The person either has a disease that no one can determine. Or they have a magical condition. And this is meant to call the person’s soul. What you call their Doppelgänger.

Half of our spirit is already on the other side.

Like our shadow selves. Our higher self or Ori in Santeria. The Ori lives in what you would call heaven. And is connected to your spirit guides. And many other versions of ourselves that live in the intermediate dimensions.

The picture comes to life, almost like a gif before the practitioner’s eyes

The way the vigil is done varies by practitioner. But the picture is always used. It is always a focal point. I have met those who use magic oils and herbs. Special prayers are always used.

Warning : Do NOT burn a candle near the image of a living person

That invites the dead and the forces of death, to kill that person. It’s used in a very nasty ritual called a fake funeral. Which is meant to kill a person who isn’t dead yet. If you need to protect a person or do a healing use anything else. You can even surround a person’s picture with a powder to keep them safe.

Or a line of salt. But never use candles. That’s strictly a funerary use. Or cursing to cause harm to a person. Also the ritual can backfire and kill the spell caster instead.

Sorry I had to mention that real quick.

The purpose of La Velada, is to call forth a person’s higher self. And ask this version of them, What is going on? Why are you sick? Then, wait for the Doppelgänger to answer the question. Usually, you start to see the picture moving on its own. Not the outer edges of it. The image inside.

It starts to look like an old fashioned movie reel with the image moving. And then, it speaks to you. Using its own image to as an avatar for itself. And it will begin to tell you what is wrong with the client. How does a person’s higher self know what their regular self doesn’t? The higher self is more enlightened.

From the article Doppelgänger,
from the Paranormal Guide

It knows things about life and death and the universe as a whole. Things you don’t know. Couldn’t possibly know yet. Also because it’s up there in the ethereal realms, it sees things you don’t. The higher self therefore is in a better position to see and know what is wrong.

Often times, if a curse is really strong, you’ll get interference. Like something acting as a barrier to block the Doppelgänger from answering. Similar to a gag put on a person’s mouth to restrain them. And when that happens, you do a stronger calling. Then you wait.

See what happens next. The other side of the soul should answer. Because it knows based on the ritual, that this is magic meant to aid, not harm. This is like a life line thrown at a drowning person. So you know something is wrong if they won’t take the line.

I won’t disclose how I do mine. Because as I said, every version is unique to the practitioner. There are some who believe there is a set way of doing things. And some like me who believe it’s flexible based on the magic user. It’s called a vigil because you have to keep watch over the following days.

So you are ready when the living spirit of the client finally appears. Then reveals everything. In some cases the spirit will say it’s a disease and not a curse. And then more or less describe the ailment to you. And from there the person has to go to a medical doctor to handle the rest.

I thought this would be an interesting addition to the blog. Since I haven’t really seen others talk about this in English speaking websites. You might read about it in a Spanish site but that’s it. It’s a well used form of folk magic. Used by everyone from old wise men and women in the country side in Mexico.

All the way to the more modern practitioners in the cities. I haven’t met many people here in the US who apply this type of magic to their work. I thought it was sufficiently spooky for the time. And an interesting practice that I think Spanish speaking practitioners outside of our countries should adopt. Cuba doesn’t (to my knowledge) use this kind of magic.

I learned it from Mexicans practitioners. But I believe others besides Mexicans know how to do this. That’s all for now. I hope you have gained an invaluable tool for diagnosing your clients.

Cheers,

– M

Imbolc for Brighid : How to Make a Witch’s Effigy or “Poppet”

All the Imbolc images are courtesy of the Celtic Lady Blog

The connection between dolls and the supernatural is not a new idea. Everyone has heard of voodoo dolls, which can supposedly stand in for the target…

So this article here caught my attention

How to Make a Witch’s Effigy “Poppet”

I thought I would add it to this little mini article I made. The problem here, is that people always think of Voodoo dolls or Poppets in terms of evil. No one ever talks about their use in white magic or nature magic. For instance, most of the time when I make Poppets, or use African Dolls (not Voodoo, but from Santeria) they are used for religious purposes. For instance, in the feast of Imbolc which is Celtic (Christian Candlemass) we have the Brídeog.

Brídeog is an idol of the Celtic Goddess, Brighid. We make one for her every February. It’s made of straw or corn husks or whatever you can find. And you welcome her spirit by walking around the outside of a house with a Torch. Now in modern times, what I use is an incense stick or a lighter. 

Candles are a pain in the Ass. And they attract attention. I sort of flick the lighter on and off. And hide the doll in something while I walk. Then I utter an incantation at the door,

” Bridean, Bridean, thig an nall ‘s dean do leabaidh”

Translation :

” Bríd (Brighid), Bríd, come over and make your bed ”

And then I place her doll near a fake fire place in a makeshift bed. I light seven Candles in honor of her. Because in the old days young women would choose an “Imbolc Queen” from among themselves. And they would wear a stick crown with seven candles in them that were lit. I use the stick holders from burned out incense sticks as the candles at the very top of a Brídeóg or “Little Brighid”.

One of my Brídeóg effigies from 2019

During the Eve before it’s actually Imbolc (for the ancients, midnight was almost always at sunset, not 12am) Brighid was said to inhabit that doll and bring blessings upon the household. Meanwhile the doll actually absorbs all the bad energy out of the home. And then, we go the next day to a body of water like a river or a pond. Or a canal. And we leave the doll at the edge near the water.

She takes the bad things away from us.

During the night of Imbolc, we read poetry to her Doll. And just plain have a really nice time together. Sing songs. Basically it’s a night to relax and enjoy not just spiritual life, but human life. Of course holy fires are important for warding away bad spirits. 

Specifically either bonfires or hearth fires. So of course we do our religious worship. But it’s done in a chill way. At least originally it’s like that. Many modern practitioners make a lot of these holidays overly ritualized.

Like even more so than our ancestors did. I suspect it’s the feeling of needing to connect to our higher powers. You could always do the Imbolc celebrations with your children. Imbolc, like Yule was a time of caroling. People went from house to house singing songs.

And begging alms for the poor.

The girls or sometimes boys and girls would carry the Brídeóg in procession while they sang to her. They all wore white with their hair unbound. Afterward, you could feast in your home. The Brídeóg was set in a place of honor, and put to bed with lullabies sang to her. After dinner there would be dancing.

And reading and any activity the family finds enjoyable. Also you have the Imbolc Queen. Where one of the girls would be chosen to wear a thorn crown with seven lit candles in it. You could give all the girls a crown with candles that has been lit but were put out. Also there are arts and crafts activities like making Brighid’s crosses and shields.

Or make Strawboys with hats to accompany Brighid. And straw masks. Basically it’s a day for arts and crafts. You could mold the day to however you like it. I need to point out that this is my research, I am not a Druid.

I do not have the authority to speak. I am a novice in Celtic Polytheism. Do not take my word for it. Take everything, from everyone, with a grain of sand. Cheers,

– M