THE BOVEDA OR SPIRITUAL ALTAR (SANTERIA/lUKUMI)

[yemayashija]

***** PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POST IS WRITTEN BY OCHAREO, AND I AM MERELY POSTING IT ON HIS BEHALF DUE TO SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES HE IS HAVING AT THIS TIME*******


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THE BOVEDA OR SPIRITUAL ALTAR



Well I want to introduce what espiritistas call a Boveda. Similar to that of altar---with a different approach. One must not associate Boveda's or spiritual altars dedicated to spirits or our anscestors as Oricha altars.

One can not get in contact with any Oricha via a spiritual alter, card reading, or medium. Oricha only talks thru the concept of Diloggun divination. The diloggun is the mouth piece of Oricha. Please do not be mislead. Oricha rarely comes via dreams. There are plenty of elders in this tradition that will tell you Flat out ORICHA does not come in dreams. However, there exists spirits with in our spiritual frame that present these dreams and we interpret that the oricha has comunicated with us, when in fact thats not the case. Again Oricha only speaks via possesion or diloggun.

La Boveda Espiritual!!.

Boveda is the table where we honor our egguns! Some initiate a boveda with just one glass to start with! It's always best to start slow and not overwhelm yourself. Learning the concept of the boveda is better to understand it vs. setting it up and not know the entire objective and purpose of a boveda espiritual. One of the biggest misconceptions is that the boveda has nothing to do with oricha. The boveda itself is a tool for espiritismo!

Santo is santo and Espiritismo is Espiritismo! Muerto is Muerto---they correlate but they are not all in the same, specifically to service delivery/worship. Its true Iku Lobi Ocha! Sin el muerto no hay santo! And why must we conduct misa's first.....because there are those spirits, egguns, ansestors in our frame that are in agreement and are not in agreement to the path of Oricha!

Some of these spirits never in there past lives practiced a faith that is not in harmony with theres. For example, If a person has a spiritual frame that is made up by many priest, nuns etc., naturally they can and will appose for the individual not to pass to Ocha! This doesn't usually happen, however, there has been some cases where this has occured and of course the solution to that would rely on having multiple investigated misas and conducting multiple ebbos to appease these spirits/egguns/ansecstors.

La Regla de Ocha is not for everyone. So in order to align our spirits we need this tool ---Boveda/ White Table. This tool being from espiritismo is the tool that assists us to get closer and become one with our spirits guides. Our muertos (spirit guides) are the ones that elevate us spiritually so that we can grow in life and give us their immediate intervention to bring resolution to existing issues or dilemmas in our current lives.

How do we construct our boveda? This depends on everyone, Some use 9 glasses some use 7 glasses you would have to seek the intervention and direction of your godparent.

THIS IS HOW I RECOMEND TO CONSTRUCT THE BOVEDA:
The table should be dressed with a white cloth.

You should have a crucifix placed on or in your large glass.Why? this will let the spirits that walk the earth know that this boveda is strickly in harmony with god almighty. It is believed that with out the cross you allow yourself open to any muertos (spirits) that seeks light. This can cause a lot of issues.

You can say prayers at the table/boveda. Many use the book entitled Colecion De Oraciones/Selected Prayers, by Allen Kardec.

table should consist of 9 glasses.
One large glass dedicated to your spiritual guide or known as ---tu guia espiritual, the other 8 glasses are dedicated to various spirits that walk with you or have been established for the table via investigated misas (spiritual masses)

The Boveda should be attended on a daily basis along with saying your prayers. And once a week clean the table, and refill each glass with new water. Light your boveda: with a 7 day white candle.

As you progress you may have to add a different cup or items for a specific spirit/s, or objects that may represent that spirit/s.

Furthermore, setting your glasses in a circle represents and invokes protection.

The middle Large glass is for Olofi/Olodumare! Some of the other items that can or will be add are rocks, shells, bells, an Incense burner, cigars, black coffee, perfume, holy water, white flowers, eggun stick---with 9 color ribbons with bells, bible, rosery, catholic saints---although here is an issue:

There are those that dont believe that Santeros should deal with catholic saints----our egguns once upon a time worked and worshiped with those saints, to say not to is to deny their form of worship. Some place food to the boveda, some will say no.

At the end this IS YOUR spiritual boveda/table. No one cant tell you---you cant have what you put on it----as long as an object or doll, statue et.al hasnt been fed eyebale ( blood), you will be cool.

Maferefun Eggun and Maferefun Oricha

Ochareo!

[yemayashija]

Originally Posted by Artiste-LiLi

In regards to the boveda, do you have color recommendations, suggestions or recommendations for placement within one's home, things to include in the boveda (gifts, items such as shells, candy, tobacco, etc), how does one know which spirits (other than ancestors) to honour and how does one go about "elevating" them?

I know how we do these things in my family....I am most curious and interested to learn about other traditions' ways.

Thank you!
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okay my personal way to set up my boveda was this:

choose an area clean and free of clutter. and in a room where it could be quiet so i could concentrate and meditate in front of it. my personal choice where i "felt" it should be was the heart or center of my home on a wall that faced east.

it took me several times moving it around until i felt where it belonged, i am sure this will be true for all.

the size and shape of the table you use is up to you, and it will grow as time goes by so don't worry about it.

clean your table physically and spiritually. everyone has their own preference as to what removes negative energy, so utilize what is preferred by you.

personally i was taught to take water, add in cascarilla powder(which is finely ground egg shell ), florida water and white flower petals. i say a prayer or dedication for the intent of the cleaner over the bucket. i use this to first cleanse myself (just a wipe over). face, neck, trunk, front and back of legs and arms/hands. then i cleanse my table with just a little over every surface of the table and splash around the room to remove negative energy and spirits.

place a WHITE tablecloth on the table. start with one large glass of water and place it on the table, most stand a crucifix in the glass (any size) or above the glass. as you probably seen, mine is on the wall above, this is becaue my primary spirit guide was not christian. but other spirits in my court were so i put it on the wall above.

take a 7 day candle (white only) and place it beside the glass after you have cleaned and prepared it. for those of us that are brujas (witches) this is a must anyway.

a vase with white flowers.

some people include pictures of their ancesters, or a piece of paper with their names written on it, i prefer to keep those inside my table.

i included on my boveda a small plate to hold offerings and or cigars.

i say a prayer over the table and the items i have placed out to bless the space. the one you choose is personal and can be any you feel appropriate.

i light a cigar and as i smoke the items on the table and area surrounding them i explain that this is their place, to come to be with me, to guide me, and enlighten me, and that anything i place here is for them. (placing the cigar backwards into your mouth and blowing the smoke through the opening in it onto all the items)

i then begin dedicating the glass, announcing to all the spirits in my spiritual court that this glass is for all of them to drink from as they need, and that the candle is to give them energy and light to guide their way. i light the candle of course:) and tell them that i wish for them to let me know the things they like or desire so i can place them here for them. to as they can present themselves to me so that i can know them better. i ask them to make their presence known and for a way for me to know it is them.

i then say a prayer asking that they become enlightened, and achieve elevation in the spiritual plane. that they be there to guide and continue to protect me from the things i am not aware of, and that they help me to achieve my goals.

some use Kardec's book of prayers, i do sometimes; but i much prefer to just talk to them. you should be sitting at your boveda meditating, talking, telling them about your day, your happy events ad things that are worrying you. here is where you go for guidance, for protection and enlightenment on your own.

you should greet your spirits when you wake, when you enter your home, and whenever you feel like it. you should bid them goodnight, and tell them when you are leaving so they can watchover you and your home. you will now know and feel like you are never alone.

as time goes by and you get dreams or feelings that other items are needed on your boveda you can add them. just remember nothing alive is to go on this table, nor pictures of people who are still living. as you add glasses always keep your large center glass for your unknown/unnammed spirits and your primary spiritual guide.

water, candle and flowers are to be changed atleast every week.
and this boveda is to be kept very clean at all times.

hope this helps.

[Artiste-LiLi]

This does help very much. It is similar in many aspects to the way my adoptive family and I do ours......different, yet, the same.

Thank you.

[alwaysfallingup]

I know that words and phrases will vary from tradition to tradition, and that this forum represents several different traditions, but is there any way we could get a thread that has either a vocabulary list or maybe a list of resources for finding definitions of words that are used in this path that are unfamiliar to us? I understand that some things might not be able to be shared, but among what is shared, there are a lot of words that are very new to me and I'd love to have a thread or a site that I can use to sort of cross-reference and refer to when I'm reading all the wonderful information everyone is sharing. Is this something anyone else would be interested in?

[Artiste-LiLi]

I know that words and phrases will vary from tradition to tradition, and that this forum represents several different traditions, but is there any way we could get a thread that has either a vocabulary list or maybe a list of resources for finding definitions of words that are used in this path that are unfamiliar to us? I understand that some things might not be able to be shared, but among what is shared, there are a lot of words that are very new to me and I'd love to have a thread or a site that I can use to sort of cross-reference and refer to when I'm reading all the wonderful information everyone is sharing. Is this something anyone else would be interested in?


I think it is a wonderful idea and it would be helpful to many.

[Ochareo!]

I think this site has already too many overwhelming threads. I think if we dont know what a word is or means why not ask. We are learning from each other. I purposely throw things in to see who is willing to continue to carry dialogue, I have found few thus far.

Ochareo!

[Artiste-LiLi]

I think this site has already too many overwhelming threads. I think if we dont know what a word is or means why not ask. We are learning from each other. I purposely throw things in to see who is willing to continue to carry dialogue, I have found few thus far.

Ochareo!

Benedicio!

I see the wisdom of your words and bow to that wisdom.