That doesn't prove much, though, as we have little earlyevidence of African beliefs in situ from those early peiods. One of the things that givestraction to the idea that Black folks borrowed the concept from Whitefolks is that we have evidences of such beliefs going back in Germaniccultures far earlier than we see them among enslaved Africans in theAmericas.

It could be argued, and HAS been argued (not by me) that all instancesof this belief in African American culture are simply culturalborrowings from European sources. Legba, Ellegua, Elegbara, Eshu, Exu, Nbumba Nzila, and Pomba Giraare African and African-diaspora names (in several languages) for the spirit who opensthe way, guards the crossroads, and teaches wisdom.Įuropean talesof, by, and about European musicians, dancers, and others who seekphysical dexterity selling themselves to the Devil are legion,frequent, and commonplace. In Africa, almost every cultural group has its own version of the crossroadsgod.

In Guatemala, the old Mayan underworld Lord Maam, under his Catholic Saint guise of Maximon or Saint Simon, is generally depicted seated at a crossroads in a chair, just outside a church.

Stone phalluses and statues of Bhairava's watchful eyes are erectedto represent him as a guardian of the boundaries. In India, the god Bhairava, an older versionof great god Siva, is said to guard the crossroads at theoutskirts of villages. In ancient Rome the similar god Mercury was thecrossroads guardian. In ancient Greece, marker stonescommemorating the god Hermes in his priapic form were set at thecrossroads. The use of the crossroads as an impromptu altarwhere offerings are placed and rituals performed is widelyencountered in both European and African folklore. Because thecrossroads is land that belongs to no one, a place outside theborders of town, it is considered a suitable site to perform magical rituals and cast spells. The crossroads - a place where two roads cross at or about atright angles, otherwise known as 'the forks of the road' - is the subject of religious and folkloric beliefall around the world. THE RITUAL OF SELLING YOURSELF TO THE DEVIL Manufacturers and Distributors of Hoodoo and Conjure Supplies: Oils, Powders, Incense, Baths, Washes, Herbs, Resins, Colognes, Roots, Minerals, Curios, Books, Candles, Statuary, and Amulets. 6632 Covey Road, Forestville, California 95436Įmail: 7 Days a Week, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Pacific Time Hoodoo in Theory and Practice by catherine yronwode

The candle and the crossroads pdf