? OBEAH?
History
Obeah is one of the more unknown and obscure African traditions of sorcery. It is
said to be traditionally started in west and north Africa by slaves. Soon moving it on to
Jamaica and Trinidad- Tobago. It is assumed that the Ashanti and the Dahomeyeans are
the carriers of the wisdom of Obeah. (Kalafou 1) Obeah or Obi is it self a word shrouded
and obscured in secrecy. The most understandable meaning of the word can be translated
into ? occult power? meaning a powerful engine used to empower spells for witchcraft as
well, as other forms for practical magic and communications with the Gods. (Shepard 1)
Shepard, Leslie. ?Different Religions of the World.? She believes that Obeah is a good
religion that can be used to help people in different ways.
The Obeah it self is best seen as a multi-different source of extreme
power. In a way the Obeah-men are the True Chaos-magicians since they can use any
system they want and fuel it with the power of Obeah, without the danger of disrespect
for the Gods.(Shepard 2)
Main Idea
Obeah, a folk religion of African origin, incorporates beliefs and practices
of all the immigrant groups. Obeah practitioners may be Afro-Guyanese or Indo-
Guyanese, and members of all the ethnic groups consult them for help with problems
concerning health, work, domestic life, and romance. Some villagers wear charms or use
other folk practices to protect themselves from harm.( Austin 1)
Austin, Cline. ?Obeah and Amerindian Practices.? Austin proves the theory of showing
people the two differences between Obeah and Amerindian practices.
Obeah is close to witchcraft as well, but it also includes many elements
you will recognize in shamanism. This is the very core of Obeah, the shamanistic
techniques that are used at initial stage of obtaining knowledge, is formally known as
Voudon. The impulse of Obeah is the witchcraft- part.(Kalafou 2)
Kalafou, Azoth. ?Obeah-Afro-Shamanistik Witchcraft.? Azoth explains Obeah the full
truth, he tells the religion as it truthfully is.
Theology
In Obeah related to Orisha-worship you can become an Obeah-man or Obi-man.
This signifies that your pathway is particularly dark and evil. Usually the Obi-men sooner
or later will move to secluded places and perform dark forms of magic, mainly connected
to the dead. The Orisha of the Obi-men are called Bones. Bones is the King of Death and
has many features in common with Ghuede of the voudon pantheon. Another deity of
great importance is Oduda, which means ?The Black One.? She is the principle balancing
and most of all ? complementing Bones. The spirit known in the outer world as Anima
Sola is also of great importance. (Kalfou 2)
Orisha worship in Trnidad has two main fractions. ?Spiritual Orisha? which are
very christian in its practical way. They also avoid blood ? offerings. The other one
?Baptist Orisha? is a more pure and ancient line of Orisha-transmission who accept
Blood-offerings and function very much like Orisha-worship you will meet elsewhere in
the world. Still Voudon is perhaps the closest ?brother? to ?Baptist Orisha.?(Kalafou 3)
Wisdom
Obeah can be viewed as, ?A Tower of Power?, an enormous vault of intelligent
power , you can communicate with mainly by using dices and candles consecrated in a
special and secret way. That is why the Obi inhabitants have no problem in blending it
with another tradition. In fact Obeah does need some materials to work with and to
empower. (Kalafou 2)
Obeah practice is very similar to vouden. But there are some differences, for
instance Satan is personified in this tradition as all the princes of Hell are. The different
grimoires are frequently used by the Obeah-men, like Grimorium Verum and Goethia as
well. In Obeah they consider the Book of Moses to be of great importance. Since they see
Moses as the snake-charmer and among the greatest of magicians.
Moral Code
The way the Obeah-man is a crooked one but a path that leads to attainment of
self. Much of this is shrouded in secrecy and it is still and will be for a long time. This is
only a taste for the truthful eyes of wisdom to get even wiser, (Kalafou 3)
The Obeah men believe that if you respect the Gods that the truth shall be your
light. The Obeah has always helped them out, and although they know that people thing
bad of their religion, they could care less. They believe what they have seen, and they
believe the truth in Obeah.(Guiley 2) Guiley, Rosemary. ?Harpes Encyclopedia of
Mystical and Paranormal Experience.? Rosemary describes Obeah as a religion that