Do you have time for a little folktale?

There was once a bruja smoking tobacco on the mountain on the edge of the river, while the bruja burned her tobacco just like every day and dedicated that sacred smoke, that sacred fire, and that sacred light to the high spirits, she spit on the ground to get rid of the bad taste while she prayed as every day. So to cause chaos and confusion the devil presents itself saying to the bruja: "you are so pretentious, you little bruja, praying to the spirits of clear light while you spit to the ground, won't they be offended?", but the bruja in absolute calm and respond to the chaotic devil: "the thing is, you do not understand, the smoke and light and prayers are for them, the spit is for you". The devil, indignant with that bruja, retires, involving itself in fire, and never returns.

That is a very old story from Autana (Venezuela), this story has five different versions, as part of my research for an article in a local magazine (Los Orishas) writing on folklore and the influence of Christianity over old legends, I researched this story from oral folklore, adapt, correct and curate my own version.

The original story before this was 'adapted' to the modern times for a popular radio show in Venezuela, used to say: "was a brujo pissing the river while pray to the spirit when the Attaye (a bad dream in flesh) appears in front of him offended for the actions of this brujo".

Another different version (popularized later for another radio show) says: "was a sister from the church using the restroom while praying her Rosario to Christ when the devil comes to her...".
The oldest version of this myth, before "the original story" ☝🏼 comes from the Kalinago natives (also called Caribs), and says:

"Was the *Carole dancing and praying in the river, he was drinking and smoking, he dances over the flames on the floor and he spits at every corner while he prays to keep away all bad spirits around his dance, then Gaguna arrive there involved in flames, and teasing the faith of the Carole he fails, he challenges Carole asking him to stop spitting the floor while dancing, Carole says no, not because the burning leaves were so bitter at taste in his mouth, but because the dance was to consecrate the space built an altar to his ancestors, and the spit around was to insult any spirit daring to cause any chaos to this ritual, then Gaguna goes away offended and promise back one day for the tongue of the Carole, who died years later and his sons put his body under the altar where that little demon while never be able to touch him."

*Carole was the title of a certain lineage of priests-sorcerer between the Caribes/Caribs.
*Gaguna was a mythical priest who offend the mountains and was condemned to never die and never sleep again.

(C) 2014, Elhoim Leafar, All Rights Reserved.

Other Articles to read: Why indigenous witches and brujas are always smoking tobacco?

My Next Workshops Online Here:

A different class every October Weekend, totally online, each class has a total duration of 90 minutes, followed by a 30-minute Q&A. Classes are limited to 25 participants per class and cost $12-$14 per person.

Oct 8 ~ Introduction to Practical Financial Magick for Beginners and Seekers. A practical and interactive workshop to guide you in the process to clean your energetical path, channel and call the energies for Money, Financial Abundance, and Prosperity. 

Oct 16 ~ Old Folk Magic from South America. Sharing those Myths, Recipes, Limpias, and Traditional Magical Rituals from Native Witches & Brujas (as well as the origin and reason for these prior to colonial times). 

Oct 22 ~ Mastering Your Individual Mystical Practice. A class to take your individual practice beyond journaling, collecting books, following instructions, and altar construction.