Papa Legba Fixed Conjure Candle
SKU:
PLCC22
$25.00
$25.00
per item
Papa Legba is an African God whose origins are with the Fon people of Dahomey (Benin) Africa. He came to the Americas with the slave trade and has a prominent and essential place in New Orleans Voudou. In fact, he is arguably the most important loa in the New Orleans Voudou pantheon. All ceremonies begin and end with Papa Legba, and there can be no communication with any of the other loas without consulting him first. Papa Legba is the master linguist, the trickster, warrior, guardian of crossroads and entrances, and the personal messenger of destiny. His gift for linguistics enables him to translate the requests of humans into the languages of the Spirits. He goes by several names in New Orleans: Papa Legba, Papa Alegba, Papa Labas, Papa Limba and Papa Lebat. During Mardi Gras season, a popular shout by revelers is “A Labas!” Papa Legba is one of the most loved and revered of the Voudou loas. This candle bears his ritual symbol or "veve" and is a perfect devotional piece for any New Orleans Voudou altar.
Candles are commonly burned on altars to show special devotion to a specific saint, spirit, deity, ancestor or ancestors. These exceptional Papa Legba Veve candles bear original graphics by New Orleans Spiritual Artist Denise Alvarado and are ritually prepared and "fixed" for you with special oils, herbs, and prayer.
Creole Moon's fixed glass encased candles will burn for approximately seven days or 120 hours. They can be reused once they have burned down as vases for holding flowers, turned into a container spell to keep on your altar or refilled with wax to burn again. They are simply too beautiful to throw away and the creative conjurer will find many possibilities for using the decorative glass container once the original wax has burned down.
*Be sure to check out my article Setting Lights on my blog for instructions and ideas for using any of my candles.
Candles are commonly burned on altars to show special devotion to a specific saint, spirit, deity, ancestor or ancestors. These exceptional Papa Legba Veve candles bear original graphics by New Orleans Spiritual Artist Denise Alvarado and are ritually prepared and "fixed" for you with special oils, herbs, and prayer.
Creole Moon's fixed glass encased candles will burn for approximately seven days or 120 hours. They can be reused once they have burned down as vases for holding flowers, turned into a container spell to keep on your altar or refilled with wax to burn again. They are simply too beautiful to throw away and the creative conjurer will find many possibilities for using the decorative glass container once the original wax has burned down.
- 2 1/2" Wide and 8 1/4" Tall
- Burns approximately 120 hours
- 100% Paraffin Wax with herbs, roots, spices and essential oils melted into the top
*Be sure to check out my article Setting Lights on my blog for instructions and ideas for using any of my candles.
About Papa Legba
Papa Legba is an African God whose origins are with the Fon people of Dahomey (Benin) Africa. He came to the Americas with the slave trade and has a prominent and essential place in New Orleans Voudou. In fact, he is arguably the most important loa in the New Orleans Voudou pantheon. All ceremonies begin and end with Papa Legba, and there can be no communication with any of the other loas without consulting him first. Papa Legba is the master linguist, the trickster, warrior, guardian of crossroads and entrances, and the personal messenger of destiny. His gift for linguistics enables him to translate the requests of humans into the languages of the Spirits. He goes by several names in New Orleans: Papa Legba, Papa Alegba, Papa Labas, Papa Limba and Papa Lebat. During Mardi Gras season, a popular shout by revelers is “A Labas!” Papa Legba is one of the most loved and revered of the Voudou loas.
In Africa, Legba is often depicted as a fertility God with a huge, erect penis. Sometimes, Legba is depicted as male and female, sometimes as a healer, and sometimes as a protector. In one form, he is depicted as an “apologetic Legba,” petitioned for forgiveness when a person has insulted the gods through awful behaviors like rape and burglary.
According to one legend, Papa Legba is the youngest son of Mawu and Liza, the creators of the world. Mawu and Liza are portrayed as twins but are one in Spirit. Mawu is the female aspect, and is associated with the East, the night moon, fertility, motherhood and night. Liza is the male aspect, and is associated with the West, the daytime sun, heat, work and strength. In another legend, Legba is the son of Oshun.
CHARACTERISTICS
For folks interested in developing a relationship with Papa Legba, you can start with learning about who he is and getting familiar with his characteristics. Papa Legba is the one loa that anyone can serve; initiation is not necessary. He is accessible to all, the kind Father who is happy with a cup of black coffee and a handful of peanuts in exchange for his help and wisdom.
Papa Legba is also the master trickster. A trickster’s primary objective is to teach; it is not malevolence. Thus, many times when he is petitioned for something he has fun with the manner in which he helps it manifest. He is a happy loa, and brings humor and unexpected blessings into the lives of those who serve him.
Areas of influence. This refers to the domains of human life that Legba is best suited to help: removing obstacles, providing opportunities, communicating, opening and closing doorways (physical and spiritual), opening roads, children, protection, and finding lost things.
Colors. All of the Voudou Spirits have colors associated with them. In New Orleans Voudou, Legba’s colors are red, black and sometimes white.
Number. As with colors, each Spirit has a particular number or numbers that corresponds to them. These numbers are important for knowing how many of a particular item or object is placed on an altar, how many times something may be repeat-ed, and has significance in magickal workings, as well. Papa Legba’s number is 3.
Day of the week. As with colors and numbers, each Spirit has a day of the week that is dedicated to them. This is the best day for you to show your devotion; although, serving the Spirits can be done at any time. Papa Legba’s days are Monday and the third day of each month.
Saints. When the slaves were brought to the New World and subsequently exposed to Catholicism, they identified the Voudou Spirits with Catholic saints who shared similar characteristics. Images of Catholic saints and a variety of artwork and statues are common on Voudou altars. Saints associated with Papa Legba include St. Peter, St. Lazarus , Holy Child of Atoche, St. Michael the Archangel and St. Anthony of Padua.
Feast days. At least once a year, the Voudou Spirits are honored with a huge feast and celebration. Each Spirit has a specific day when the celebration occurs. Sometimes, people opt to celebrate the feast days of the associated patron saint as an additional way of honoring and serving them.
New Year’s Day – Feast day of the Holy Child of Atoche
June 13 -Feast day of St. Anthony of Padua
June 21st & December 17th – Feast days of St. Lazarus
June 29th – Legba petro (feast day of St. Peter) bonfire lit in his honor
September 29 – Feast day of St. Michael the Archangel
November 1st – Bonfire lit in his honor for the coming New Year
Favorite place. Each Spirit resides in a particular place or places. For Papa Leg-ba, these places include crossroads, cemetery gates, doorways, entryways, thresholds of homes, 4 corners, and any place where two roads intersect.
Favorite animals. Each Spirit has their favorite animals. You can place images or figures of these animals on your altars as a way of acknowledging their preferences. Papa Legba is partial to roosters, dogs, possums, and mice.
Favorite things. Three stones, crooked stick, pipe, keys, doors, marbles, small toys, straw bag, playing cards, red flowers, mixed flower bouquet, pictures of crossroads, cigars.
Sacrificial foods/offerings. Corn (toasted), candy, rum, palm oil, black coffee (you can add sugar but no cream), anything sweet, coconut, plantains, red beans and rice, smoked fish, Louisiana hot sauce, cakes, yams, sugar cane, fruits, green grapes when asking for money, bananas and honey when asking for help with love. His food can be doused liberally with corojo butter and his water should be standing water.
Planet. Mercury, the Sun
Herbs. Each Voudou spirit has herbs associated with them that are used when preparing healing baths, oils, powders, creating wangas, and other ritual and healing items. These herbs will vary ac-cording to tradition. Herbs associated with Papa Legba include anise, star anise, rue, sweet basil, tobacco, guava, avocado, Alligator pear, red pep-per, camphor leaves, corn, wild peppergrass, peppermint, yellow thistle, Mexican thistle, Abre camino, Cuban spurge, Sargasso, wild convolvulus, foxtail, nettles, crowfoot, neat’s tongue, white pine nuts, jack bean, spiny blite, nightshade, black eyed peas, ateje, (cordia collocea), heliotrope, pigeon peas, mastic tree, chili peppers, corn stalks, corn leaves, corn silk, avocado leaves, avocado roots, coconut husk, coconut palm stem, corojo, wild croton, cowage, dried rose buds, senna, soapberry tree and bitter bush.
Read more about Papa Legba on the Hoodoo and Conjure Magazine blog.
In Africa, Legba is often depicted as a fertility God with a huge, erect penis. Sometimes, Legba is depicted as male and female, sometimes as a healer, and sometimes as a protector. In one form, he is depicted as an “apologetic Legba,” petitioned for forgiveness when a person has insulted the gods through awful behaviors like rape and burglary.
According to one legend, Papa Legba is the youngest son of Mawu and Liza, the creators of the world. Mawu and Liza are portrayed as twins but are one in Spirit. Mawu is the female aspect, and is associated with the East, the night moon, fertility, motherhood and night. Liza is the male aspect, and is associated with the West, the daytime sun, heat, work and strength. In another legend, Legba is the son of Oshun.
CHARACTERISTICS
For folks interested in developing a relationship with Papa Legba, you can start with learning about who he is and getting familiar with his characteristics. Papa Legba is the one loa that anyone can serve; initiation is not necessary. He is accessible to all, the kind Father who is happy with a cup of black coffee and a handful of peanuts in exchange for his help and wisdom.
Papa Legba is also the master trickster. A trickster’s primary objective is to teach; it is not malevolence. Thus, many times when he is petitioned for something he has fun with the manner in which he helps it manifest. He is a happy loa, and brings humor and unexpected blessings into the lives of those who serve him.
Areas of influence. This refers to the domains of human life that Legba is best suited to help: removing obstacles, providing opportunities, communicating, opening and closing doorways (physical and spiritual), opening roads, children, protection, and finding lost things.
Colors. All of the Voudou Spirits have colors associated with them. In New Orleans Voudou, Legba’s colors are red, black and sometimes white.
Number. As with colors, each Spirit has a particular number or numbers that corresponds to them. These numbers are important for knowing how many of a particular item or object is placed on an altar, how many times something may be repeat-ed, and has significance in magickal workings, as well. Papa Legba’s number is 3.
Day of the week. As with colors and numbers, each Spirit has a day of the week that is dedicated to them. This is the best day for you to show your devotion; although, serving the Spirits can be done at any time. Papa Legba’s days are Monday and the third day of each month.
Saints. When the slaves were brought to the New World and subsequently exposed to Catholicism, they identified the Voudou Spirits with Catholic saints who shared similar characteristics. Images of Catholic saints and a variety of artwork and statues are common on Voudou altars. Saints associated with Papa Legba include St. Peter, St. Lazarus , Holy Child of Atoche, St. Michael the Archangel and St. Anthony of Padua.
Feast days. At least once a year, the Voudou Spirits are honored with a huge feast and celebration. Each Spirit has a specific day when the celebration occurs. Sometimes, people opt to celebrate the feast days of the associated patron saint as an additional way of honoring and serving them.
New Year’s Day – Feast day of the Holy Child of Atoche
June 13 -Feast day of St. Anthony of Padua
June 21st & December 17th – Feast days of St. Lazarus
June 29th – Legba petro (feast day of St. Peter) bonfire lit in his honor
September 29 – Feast day of St. Michael the Archangel
November 1st – Bonfire lit in his honor for the coming New Year
Favorite place. Each Spirit resides in a particular place or places. For Papa Leg-ba, these places include crossroads, cemetery gates, doorways, entryways, thresholds of homes, 4 corners, and any place where two roads intersect.
Favorite animals. Each Spirit has their favorite animals. You can place images or figures of these animals on your altars as a way of acknowledging their preferences. Papa Legba is partial to roosters, dogs, possums, and mice.
Favorite things. Three stones, crooked stick, pipe, keys, doors, marbles, small toys, straw bag, playing cards, red flowers, mixed flower bouquet, pictures of crossroads, cigars.
Sacrificial foods/offerings. Corn (toasted), candy, rum, palm oil, black coffee (you can add sugar but no cream), anything sweet, coconut, plantains, red beans and rice, smoked fish, Louisiana hot sauce, cakes, yams, sugar cane, fruits, green grapes when asking for money, bananas and honey when asking for help with love. His food can be doused liberally with corojo butter and his water should be standing water.
Planet. Mercury, the Sun
Herbs. Each Voudou spirit has herbs associated with them that are used when preparing healing baths, oils, powders, creating wangas, and other ritual and healing items. These herbs will vary ac-cording to tradition. Herbs associated with Papa Legba include anise, star anise, rue, sweet basil, tobacco, guava, avocado, Alligator pear, red pep-per, camphor leaves, corn, wild peppergrass, peppermint, yellow thistle, Mexican thistle, Abre camino, Cuban spurge, Sargasso, wild convolvulus, foxtail, nettles, crowfoot, neat’s tongue, white pine nuts, jack bean, spiny blite, nightshade, black eyed peas, ateje, (cordia collocea), heliotrope, pigeon peas, mastic tree, chili peppers, corn stalks, corn leaves, corn silk, avocado leaves, avocado roots, coconut husk, coconut palm stem, corojo, wild croton, cowage, dried rose buds, senna, soapberry tree and bitter bush.
Read more about Papa Legba on the Hoodoo and Conjure Magazine blog.
