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.
A mojo bag is a tool that you can fill with magical, lucky, symbolic or other spiritual items to create a “prayer in a bag” or a “spell in a bag”. The mojo bag can be carried with you or placed on your personal alter.
The contents of each bag is determined by your goal and aim of your prayer or spell. For example, a mojo bag carried for love drawing will contain different ingredients than one for gambling luck or magical protection.Ingredients can include roots, herbs, animal parts, minerals, coins, crystals, good luck tokens, and carved amulets. The more personalized objects are used to add extra power because of their symbolic value.
A mojo bag is not an inanimate talisman, but rather the physical body of a spiritual ally. In short, it is a living thing and as such it should have a name just like you were given a name when you were born. Psychologically speaking, assigning a name to your mojo helps one to facilitate the idea that it is a living thing with it's own personality, habits, needs, desires, etc. Once you choose the name of your mojo bag, use that name when addressing the bag communicating your needs or asking for its assistance.
