The traditional story of this Virgin says that around the year 1620 two Indians and a Black Slave went to the Bay of Nipe near the mining province of Cobre to look for salt. As they were rowing in their canoe, they noticed a strange object among the waves. As they approached , they saw that what had attracted their attention was an image of the Virgin Mary that was floating on a piece of wood. The image was approximately 15 inches long, carved in wood. In one arm the Virgin held the Infant Jesus and on the other a cross of gold.
The legend at her feet read: Yo Soy La Virgen de La Caridad (I am the Virgin of Charity). The three men picked up thew image and brought it to Santiago where a small chapel was built in her honor. In 1916 she was declared patron of Cuba. The many miracles of La Caridad are celebrated each year on her feast day of September 8th.
Ochun is syncretized with la Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, who is the Patroness of Cuba. On September 8, Cubans show their devotion to Ochún by dressing in yellow, putting sunflowers and special treats like honey and pumpkins on her altar, lighting candles and, if possible, holding a tambor (drumming ceremony) or violín (classical music played by a solo violin or a small string orchestra) in her honor. One reason Ochun and La Caridad del Cobre were syncretized in Cuba is that both are traditionally represented as women of mixed race, thereby thought to symbolize the Cuban people.
Our Lady Of Charity Prayer: “Oh, Caridad Del Cobre, unique spirit, without beginning or end, ever present, ever powerful. I am but a drop in your ocean of life. Let me feel the presence of your power. Let me know more clearly what you are and what I mean to you. Make the consciousness of your spiritual reality penetrate my whole being and occupy all the parts of my soul. May your spiritual power which is in my soul penetrate my body. Infuse me with health, vigor, and vitality, so, that I can become a better temple of the Holy Spirit. Give this body the peace, strength, and life that belong to you by virtue of your being. This I ask of you, oh never present spirit, because I am your child and because of your promise of eternal knowledge. AMEN.”
Saints are spiritual beings who have been tasked with maintaining this Earth, watching over the affairs of humanity and each has dominion over a portion of nature. Each Saint is identified with natural forces as well as with human interests or endeavors. These Saints are mediators between humanity and the Supreme Being.
Pray to Saints because they are already in heaven, and they can intercede for you. In moments of anxiety, you need to hope and believe in something that helps you recover faith and maintain peace in your life.
The bell is commonly associated with the Divine and is used most often to invite archangels or faeries into a magical circle in order to offer protection or wisdom. In some cultures, the ringing of the bell is also used as a way to clear out negative energies. Bells are commonly representative of joy and freedom, as with the American Liberty Bell. The shape of the bell is closely related to the vault of Heaven. A bell's pendulous motion can represent the extremes of good and evil, death and immortality. In Christianity, the ringing of church bells is traditionally believed to drive out demons and other unclean spirits.
The bell hits the clapper to produce sound energy. So the bell moves, the clapper strikes the bell and some of the kinetic energy is transformed into sound. Sound is a form of energy produced by vibrations that travel through air and we are able to hear. The bell is commonly associated with the Divine and is used most often to invite archangels or faeries into a magical circle in order to offer protection or wisdom. The energy that the bell creates reverberates and is by some considered to be a pleasant vibration. This vibration is a calling to the energies and elementals that it is time for their presence or that they are encouraged to participate in a ritual setting.
Approximately 6"
