#palo

[livesunique]

Castello Odescalchi di Palo, Ladispoli RM, Italy

[welele]

Deja que tú no sabes.

[antianakin]

Happy fix-it AU where Padme leaves Anakin anyway because she realizes how bad he is for her, and she ends up retiring because she REALLY doesn't want to be a Senator anymore (it was also maybe encouraged by her Queen after her secret marriage to a Jedi was discovered) and she goes back to Naboo to be with her family. She's left behind her responsibilities but she doesn't know what to do now, she's just... adrift, sort-of in limbo and mourning her relationship with Anakin. She has to keep convincing herself not to go back to him because she KNOWS she doesn't want that anymore, she KNOWS she doesn't want to be the person she was with him again, but the thrill of the secret marriage to someone who was so passionate about being with her is also sort-of like a drug.

Her parents both offer to let her come help them in their respective jobs, but she doesn't really have the energy for that right now. She DOES like helping Sola with her nieces because their energy and innocence seems to be a balm for her heart. One day, Sola asks if Padme can take the kids to a local festival in Theed one day while she and her husband go do something else, and Padme agrees. The girls are old enough and Theed is safe enough that they can wander off on their own away from Padme as long as they know not to go TOO far and come back to her after a little while. As she peruses the different artwork on her own, one artist's work stands to her more than anyone else's, it just hits at the core of her and she's not even sure why. She stands in front of a painting of a bird in flight for what seems like hours, though it can't be more than a minute or two, before the artist himself comes over to speak to her.

He addresses her as Senator Amidala, and she quickly tells him that she's not a Senator anymore and she doesn't really want to go by the name Amidala either, she prefers just Padme these days. He agrees, and something about him, maybe his eyes, seems familiar but she can't quite put her finger on it. They talk about his art for a while and everything he says about his inspiration feels like it's speaking directly to her. Eventually, Pooja and Ryoo come up to her and start pulling at her hands, demanding that she come see something with them. Before she leaves, she finally realizes she didn't even know his name and asks him.

It's Palo. The first boy she'd ever loved. The last time she'd seen him she'd been twelve in the Legislative Youth Program. She knew he'd left politics to become an artist instead, but she'd never actually seen any of his art before or ever tried to get back in contact with him. Now she wishes she had. Pooja and Ryoo are still pulling her away so she doesn't have time to really get over her shock at this revelation before she has to leave him behind and someone else comes up to ask him a question in her place.

He shows up at her parents' door the next day with the painting of the bird she'd so adored, and offers it to her as a gift. He refuses to accept any payment for it no matter how much she insists, but asks if she'd be willing to take a walk with him instead. She agrees. They end up spending the whole day together, just talking. For the first time, Padme doesn't feel like she's drowning in her own feelings or floating with no direction. She feels a lot like she's finally come home.

[viejospellejos]

Medievoooo!!

[turtlequeen]

[serpentface]

Does Tigran pull his weight in the trio or does he delegate all the bitch work to Palo?

Either way, I don't see Couya doing anything that doesn't involve shooting a hole into someone or something

Oh yeah you got the gist of it, Tigran has been basically assigned as Palo's mentor in spite of being a good deal younger and dumber than him (as he has been a galenii monk since childhood, and Palo was initiated recently and as an adult). Being placed as a mentor is basically the first position of power he has had in his entire life and he's very eager to exert it.

Palo isn't a pushover and is very resentful of being lorded over (especially given his former high social status), and Tigran's power is very limited (while he is a mentor he doesn't actually Outrank him) so he can't actually force him into all the bitch work and they ultimately both have to pull their weight. It ends up mostly being a lot of whinging (ie "When I was an initiate I had to haul shields behind marching soldiers for 50 miles uphill BOTH WAYS, and here you are complaining that I won't help you fetch water, in my darkest hour, when my ankle is so sore, possibly sprained...").

Palo is also dealing with the trauma of recently being made a eunuch (technically willingly, but as a lesser of two bad options), and part of it manifests in coping with like 'at least I'm not like him' (Tigran was castrated before puberty, him being a eunuch is more immediately apparent and he is more heavily Othered in this society) and Tigran turns it around on him and plays on his insecurities like "Oh if I'm so weak and effeminate surely you're much more capable than me? Surely you don't need a prissy little gelding to do your work for you?". They're both assholes but Tigran is more manipulative about it.

These guys never have a beautiful loving friendship but they go through a lot of shit together and do eventually gain a great deal of respect for one another and a lot of these behaviors are diminished (instead of throwing each other under the bus, they find OTHER PEOPLE to throw under the bus!).

Couya is actually very eager to do certain tasks that would not be expected of a woman of her stature and to put on an air of self sufficiency (partly out of disdain for her own family, she sees her siblings as coddled and weak), but still is utterly of her upper class upbringing and delegates any work she sees as specifically Beneath her to whoever ranks lowest in her command, which is Tigran and Palo for a very long stretch. This gets worse the more convinced she is that she is God's chosen, and starts treating the two of them like Acolytes instead of their actual role as attendants.

Also: Premise of the story below the cut for anyone unfamiliar because it's been a while

A devastating multi year drought hits the lands of Wardin coincidentally after the previous Odomache was murdered, it's determined that the face of God incarnate being so defiled is the cause, the world might be ending, and that this must be rectified via a reenactment of creation via the sacrifice of 7 great beasts and a new Odomache being crowned. A bunch of monks, priestesses, and soldiers go on a massive pilgrimage to the believed site of creation to Do That. This is framed as a quest to Save The World but it is ultimately highly political imperial maneuvering.

Tigran and Palo (galenii monks) and Couya (odonii priestess) are assigned stewardship of the sacrificial white calf and travel together. Couya believes she is God's chosen and is on a warpath for apotheosis, Tigran and Palo just want to like, not die. The three get separated from their entourage for a while, shenanigans ensue, etc)

[ausetkmt]

Afrobrazilian Candomble priestess embodying Oxum

You will forever be a pitiful victim-mentality slave until your concept/image of the Supreme Being is one that comes from your Westcentral African ancestry. Deity must reflect you. This is the mirror of Oshun.

[this-blog-needs-a-new-name]

A family portrait 🫰🏼

[reasoningdaily]

Click the Title Link to DOWNLOAD for Free from the BLACK TRUEBRARY

Click the Title Link to DOWNLOAD for Free from the BLACK TRUEBRARY

Outside of Cuba, Palo is generally called Palo Mayombe ; however, this is a misnomer since not all lineages and houses are truly Mayombe – in fact, most are not. To my knowledge there is only one (perhaps a couple) Munanzo outside of Cuba that are accepted as a true Mayombe houses amongst the elders on the Island.

In Cuba, “Palo Monte” is used far more frequently to speak to the entire body of Regla-Kongo Palo tradition. Other terms such as Palo Cruzado (‘crossed palo’, denoting heavy syncretization with other religions), Palo Cristiano (‘Christian palo’) and Palo Judio (‘Jewish palo’, not actually jewish, but simply non-Christian) deserve a brief mention. However, these are not specific ramas of Palo, but rather terms that are used to denote the degree of syncretism and mixing in individual lineages and practices.

There are many houses (munansos) and foundational lineages (ramas) of Palo Monte, but commonly they are understood to fit within three major  forms or sub ‘reglas’ within the greater Regla-Kongo:

Mayombe

Biyumba (Vrillumba o Brillumba)

Kimbiza

Palo Mayombe is the oldest and most orthodox form of Palo. The origins trace back to a specific Nkisi cult in the Mayombe region of Cabinda (NW Congo) from where it gets its name and the tradition came into its own in the caves and wilderness of the Pinar del Rio highlands of Cuba. Mayomberos typically shun away from syncretism and are extremely orthodox in our practices. The most well known of the Mayombe houses are the houses of “Batalla Saca Empeño” and “Bejuco Nfinda”.

Palo Biyumba developed out of Palo Mayombe and rose in popularity during Cuba’s war of Independence. It was the first regla to initiate people of non-Bantu ancestry and frequently worked with and developed pacts with dead spirits of no particular blood or spiritual lineage (often times to send them out for warring intentions). It is a vast regla and has many ramas and sub-lineages. Indeed, a great number of houses today are some offshoot of Biyumba. Broadly speaking, Palo Biyumba is more oriented toward the various mpungos and over time some lineages have introduced a degree of syncretization with elements of Ocha and Catholicism.

Palo Kimbisa was popular on the eastern side of the Cuban island and has absorbed many influences from Catholicism to Freemasonry to Haitian Vodou. Kimbisa likely originated within an already syncretized Catholic-Kongo religious tradition from the Kingdom of Kongo following Kimpa Vita’s Christian reform in the 18th C. In Kimbisa the mpungos are paramount and are seen as divinities and saints. Thus, Kimbiseros will venerate the mpungos and focus much of their work calling upon them, instead of upon the dead. The most well known Kimbisa rama is Andrés Petit’s La Regla Kimbisa de Santo Cristo del Buen Viaje.

The Kimbisa prendas/ngangas I have seen also tend to be huge in comparison to Mayombe. Although my elders have reassured me that there are Kimbisa prendas that are built almost identical to Mayombe as there is more variance per house/lineage than across the greater sub-reglas. It is also common to see Kimbisa (as well as Briyumba) prendas with crucifixes. Moreover, many Kimbiseros and Biymberos will make a distinction between prendas judias or prendas ndoki(those without crucifixes and containing the bones of non-baptized individuals) used to curse, kill, and other malefica; and prendas cristianas (with cross and baptized nfumbe) used to heal and general benefica. This distinction does not appear in Mayombe.

Assortment of now defunct/dormant Briyumba Ngangas on display in the Museo Municipal de Regla

Click the Title Link to DOWNLOAD for Free from the BLACK TRUEBRARY

[aryburn-trains]

Palo Holiday Express on the IANR by iais_2000 Via Flickr: Here is the north end of our train about 45 min before our 1000 departure from Palo on 12-6-08. The 678 is on the south end. Behind the 4003 is the Private Car Susquahanna, owned by IANR Supt. Mark Vaughn

[magumsilvarum]

Spirits and their common uses and misconceptions

The Congo Spirit

This better known spirit is well known through the Espiritismo community, but also through other spiritual communities like, Umbanda, Palo Mayombe, Santeria, Sanse, 21 divisions and Haitian Vudu. Let's start off with some history, The republic of Congo inhabits so many diverse religious communities and this wasn't any different before colonialism, much of their spiritual practices were tied to animism, vitalism, herbalism, witchcraft, ancestral and spirit veneration and sorcery. Some commonly known congo spirits are Tata/Papa Francisco, Negro, Tata Jose, Papa Guinea, Candelo, Felipe, to name a few. Many of these spirits were once living and were commonly known as witch doctors, paleros, root workers, and juju men. They faced enslavement during colonialism due to their religious/spiritual practices being deemed as devil worship through Christianity and many had to hide their beliefs through syncretism to Christian saints. It's commonly misconceived that these spirits are rageful and angry spirits, yet that is far from the truth they can be playful, wise, gentle and foolish. They love to play tricks and hide items around in the house, but not to enrage one, but to teach one patience and care. Many were enslaved so they do tend to protect their kin and those they walk with, with great strength. They are able to remove spiritual ailments, witchcraft, evil eye, espiritus oscuros (dark spirits), and negative energy off a practicioner. They can be offered liquor, tobacco, black coffee, candy, candle light, sharpened stones and water. These are spirits of light, but they also are able to teach great offensive magic. They can usually be housed in a rock and stick found through a trip to the mountains or woods. You would offer the spirit of the forest or mountain an offering for these gifts and customize them to what the spirit guides you to do. Usually a libation (a drink poured out to honor and give thanks to a particular spirit) is presented through this process as well as 21 pennies washed and prayed over with a cigar broken into half. You could also offer some popcorn and some pennies and it will suffice, if you're running short on some dough. The rock and stick must be consecrated with smoke and liquor. Many of these spirits had their own spiritual beliefs so they might pull you to learn about their belief system and even get intiated to appease the spirit. Also some of them tend to be in service of a greater Deity, Loa, and/or Orisha. SEDIFE! They resonate with the number 3 and 7. The colors white, black and red can also be used to represent them.

Prayer to El Congo

O Glorious Congo Spirit, for your virtues you have entered into the Kingdom of God and have obtained the blessings of Heaven. You leader of the heavenly commission of spirits and surrounded by Angels. I an admirer of your strength and courage, knowledge and wisdom, ask in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that you fill my body with your powers and aid me in vanquishing the evil thoughts sent by my enemies. Liberate me O Congo spirit from the snare of the Devil, and the demons that surround him. Vanquish from me all evil spirits and bind their hands and feet, may they never reach me, shut their mouths so they may never speak to or on me. O Glorious spirit of the Congo, with you at my side I shall defeat all my enemies and with your strength I shall overcome all obstacles and opposition. With your sublime powers given to you by God, I ask that you aid me in my daily necessities. Guard my home against envy, hate, jealousy, bad luck, witchcraft and all that is evil. Free me from all negative forces. I light this candle in your honor, and ask that you illuminate my path. As it is, So it is done. AMEN!

[welele]

[prrettyflacko]

Blind eyes could look at me and see the truth

[viejospellejos]

¿Porque por qué no?

[omarfor-orchestra]

Comunque la prima foto che ha messo era quella quindi io le mie conclusioni le ho tratte

[jamaalw]

Deliverance Prayer Against Ancestral African Witchcraft Pray Out Loud

Father, Please help me. I thank Your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ for making Your help available to me through His glorious sacrifice. I thank you for sending us the Holy Spirit in the Holy name of your Son Jesus Christ. I thank you, Holy Spirit, for the work you are doing in this world and in my life. Thank you God, thank you Father, thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit. Please lead me into…