Like its better-known cousins Voodoo and Santeria, Palo Mayombe is one of the witchcraft-oriented religions which emerged when African tribal peoples were brought to the New World with the spread of the slave trade.
Palo Mayombe : A Brief History
Palo has is roots in the 15th century Kingdom of Kongo, where Bantu traditional healers grafted the teachings of Portugese monks into their own cult of the dead, mixing Roman Catholic mysticism with herbal lore, necromancy and tribal animism.
Nature spirits (especially trees) play a vital role in Palo magic
Far from home, the first Palo priests (called “paleros”) labored in secrecy to preserve their ancestral traditions, using drumming, sacrifice and trance possession to work with the mpungo (divine forces) for powerful spells of love, success, protection and healing.
Today, Palo temples (called “munansos”) can be found almost everywhere in the Americas, from Mexico City and Miami to Los Angeles and El Salvador.
Palo in the Postmodern Era
Palo shares with Hoodoo (USA) and Kimbanda (Brazil) a certain “eye-for-an-eye” attitude towards conflict largely absent from contemporary Neo-Paganism. Perhaps for this reason, most paleros do not advertise their services but instead do business by word of mouth.
In further keeping with Palo’s “underground” roots, paleros do not proselytize or seek to convert members of the public; instead, it is believed that prospective initiates are called to this path by the spirits of the dead themselves.
Even “outsiders” can still benefit from Palo’s very direct, no-nonsense approach, however. From providing guidance on important decisions to removing obstacles and opening doors, the power of ndoki can help ordinary people create extraordinary change.
