Protections in Nkisi Malongo or Palo Mayombe can come in many forms and have varying intensities and requirements to receive them. Everything in this traditional religion has roots, mechanics, principles protocols and requirements. Nothing comes from thin air because someone just decided to make it. Some protections are very entry-level and can be given to even children to protect them from the outside world, others are deeply embedded behind ceremonies and titles. Some can be tiny and others so large that it would make them stationary protections that really shouldn’t ever be moved. This traditional religion was once very peaceful and had a primary focus on healing and helping members of the tribe. That practice was largely abandoned in favor of more aggressive stances on spiritual warfare and the need to defend ourselves due to slavery and persecution coming at us from all angles.
There are several protections and just like cleanses, the determination of which is needed takes precedence over the one that is wanted. Not all protection works the same, they too have strengths and weaknesses. There is Makuto, Mpaka, Nkuyu and Dimbri to name a few. Makuto is a protection that can really look like anything, can come in various sizes and can be used pretty much for everything. It can be made to look like a a small pouch, or the spur of a rooster, the tooth of a tiger etc. These are most common because they can be strong enough to protect against most spiritual attacks but gentle enough to where even a child can have one. Due to their delicate nature, they are the ones most often given to people who have not initiated into the traditional religion. Mpaka is like a horn of a goat and is more serious, these ones may vary in adornment but they are always horns. Nkuyu is pictured above and is a protector spirit inside of a vessel, most often seen inside a conch shell. Dimbri is the one and only widely recognized necklace used in Nkisi Malongo or Palo Mayombe.
Each lineage or house of Palo Mayombe has their specific requirements and protocols for granting people protection and those can vary greatly. In some lineages, protection is simply a matter of financial transaction and in others there is more to the matter. In our specific Temple, the matter is very complicated seeing as how we do not take the act of granting spiritual protection lightly. The act of granting protection comes with a heavy responsibility for the one granting that protection, they are becoming the elder of the person they granted protection over. The relationship between the elder and the apprentice is supposed to have meaning, love and trust. Taking this step lightly is destructive to the traditional religion and it’s history and culture.
To be granted protection from this specific Temple requires certain commitments be made and so these are done on a case-by-case basis. This is usually established via in-person communication with the priests of the Temple and that is not an easy feat for everyone.
Feel like you need protection?