Spiritual Mass for Spirit Guides

Often a Spiritual Mass is called for to raise up an Eggun (Egun and Spirit Guides) to a higher spiritual level or because Eggun may wish to speak to a person. Spiritual Masses are also performed on a regular basis to maintain an intimate contact with Eggun. In the religion, it is only within a few of our rites concerning the dead where one will find real evidence of syncretism. The spiritist elements fill a void that was left when Egungun rites ceased to become a common practice in the New World. There are two reasons for this. Therefore, many people in the religion naturally gravitated towards the Kongo rites (Palo) and Spiritism to fill this void for what did not travel procedurally from Africa.

The Spiritual Mass is an Africanized version of the Kardecian practices. A special bóveda or eggun altar (see below) (see Misa Checklist) is prepared and the participants sit in a circle in front of this altar. After performing special cleansing on themselves, they read prayers from Kardec’s Book of Prayers, adding prayers and songs passed down from santeros since the 1800’s. They first call their Spiritual Guides to be with them and guide them as they do their good work. Then, they call upon the spirits more generally to attend the mass.

During a Spiritual Mass everyone is equal. There is no hierarchy. If anyone sees, hears, or feels something, they should declare it. Also, no one knows in what form the Mass will take or how long it will last, as the Eggun call the shots. If the presence of a spirit becomes known, then a more experienced practitioner will take it upon themselves to test the spirit to make sure it isn’t trying to trick anyone and to discern the true nature of that spirit.

If the spirit is excessively disruptive or useless, it is forced to depart using special prayers and actions designed for this purpose. It is not uncommon for an Eggun to mount or possess one of the members. Once the Eggun’s true nature and motives are determined, the Eggun often cleanses and gives advice to the participants. The spiritual mass also helps the spirits of the Eggun attain a higher spiritual plane.

April 15, 2012

Sean Gayle