“Buen Nsambi, Buen Nsambi, Munalongo eeee… Si mi Palo bobo son carire, y me engando son batalla… Va con licensia de Tata Nsambi. Vamos Saluda Nsambi que son primero.” I feel when it is time to sit down and get serious about this creative force that gave birth to all that is living, My words could not even give him the credit due that he so well deserves. This figure for many a time that I heard we do not believe in...

As we look into the many practices of and identities of Palo Mayombe we can never forget the basis of our practice. The Congo and the ancestors who roamed those mountains and plains in which we call bakulu. Deified ancestors who before us paved the way so that we as practitioners of this religion can understand the embodiment of every aspect that we hold dear. For the laymen out their the word bakulu in palo means ancestor in Congo...

Nsala malongo, There are particular times in Palo when the nature of one’s spirit becomes important in practical workings. I had one of those times working with my nkisi a couple of nights ago, and thought I’d share what I learned. In my own experience, the mpungo that my nature is most closely attuned to is Tongo Sekue . This was revealed, as is tradition, during my first pact with Nature and Spirit during my rayamiento....

The trance is an essential component of work in Palo; it would be impossible to accomplish healing or true communication with spirit without it. Let’s take a look at the different methods of gaining the spiritual trance we work with in Palo; perhaps through a close and thorough examination of method and technique involving trance we can improve our personal work and gain deeper understanding of the mysteries of our religion. Sounds...

(Picture of a Zulu medicine man) Many physical diseases attributed to physical disorders of the body, Things like hypertension, Diabetes, Cancer, Arthritis and a whole slew of distinctive diseases. Modern medicine has made great leaps and bounds due to African religious groups and other nature based traditions. Many remedies in Palo Mayombe from healing and curing the common cold, to abrasions, acne, broken bones etc.   When we look at...