What is the Precept in Umbanda?

Many religions and beliefs have specific precepts to achieve some grace, to elevate the energy, to connect with the higher plane and the signs it sends. In Umbanda, there are the precepts that are voluntary abstentions to positively or negatively affect the being, as well as those that must be fulfilled by the mediums.

These precepts are divided into three groups that you will get to know as you continue reading this article.with them, who is performing the gira, that is, the mediums, and who is being attended may have obligations to fulfill to ensure greater protection and elevation of energy. Check all the details!

Paramount Precept

The primordial precept is the one that becomes obligatory and indispensable for the mediums who prepare themselves for the spiritual and mediumistic works in the sessions of the terreiros. It has several restrictions and abstentions that have to be fulfilled so that the person may have their body more clean and pure to perform their work and attend to all with quality and efficiency.

There are several primordial precepts and each terreiro or spiritist center can adopt them according to the beliefs, customs, works to be performed and needs that must be fulfilled. Understand more about them in the topics below:

Resguardo de sexo

To restrain sex is also a restoring of energies. The sexual act demands a very intense exchange of energies between those who do it, therefore, until the person can recover and return to his/her own energy, it takes a long period. The indicated is that, at least, for 8 hours before the mediumistic works, no sexual practice should be done.

Thus, the energetic mixture does not hinder the connection between the medium and the spirit guide and their work can be carried out without interference or mixing of energies that do not belong to that person.

Food of animal origin

Food of animal origin, more precisely meat, which depends on slaughtering, brings with it all the feelings of fear, anguish, pain and suffering. For this reason, this is one of the abstentions cited as primordial in Umbanda, so that these energies do not mix with good and pure energies and interfere with the spiritual work that will be done.

There is also the issue of these foods and even drinks grounding the person by the energies they carry with them, causing the medium to have to deal with a very strong conflict of energies within himself, making it more difficult to work and perform the practices of the terreiro, so it is indicated to stay at least 24 hours without eating food of animal origin.

Bad thoughts

Keeping your health and body healthy is paramount, but your thoughts and psychology must also be in good condition, because they are what carry and move much of the energy of the human body, attracting situations, feelings and achievements. Therefore, for a medium to work in a light and fluid way with his energy, it is necessary to keep away bad thoughts.

To achieve this feat of keeping bad thoughts away, it is necessary to settle down, do a "decompression" preparation, disconnect from the world and problems for a few moments before starting the practice, bring to thoughts the healing and health that you want to emanate to care for those in need and, thus, stay positive.

White clothes

The color white is closely related to Oxalá, ruler of the faith in Umbanda, and for this reason it is traditionally common to see people wearing white clothes to work in terreiros and carry out their practices. White clothes are therapeutic, they help in the work of the medium and for this reason, when in exception of festivals and celebrations, they are always used in the practices.

This is a way of helping the medium to concentrate, to attract good thoughts, energies and fluids, bringing them closer to the creator of the world. It should be noted that these clothes and garments should only be worn during rituals and works, and are strictly forbidden to wear on a day-to-day basis.

Discharge bath

Each of the mediums has its own bath of unloading, which helps in cleaning, connection, elevation of energy and has the correlation with the major Orixá, so it is necessary that the bath is taken before the beginning of the practices and works.

The closer to the time of the gira of the terreiro, the better. This is because it helps in the initiation ritual, in the connection and in the transition. But if for major reasons it is not possible, up to 12 hours before it is valid to have the bath taken. So, for those who work, it is possible to take the bath destined before going to the office and then go to fulfill their spiritual obligations.

Punctuality

The giras have a scheduled time to start, even before the mediums arrive at their posts to begin the services and care. So, punctuality is a primordial precept, which demonstrates respect for all those involved, including the guides who are preparing on the spiritual plane to work here on Earth.

Delivery

To be present in body, mind and spirit is one of the primordial precepts. For this reason, giving yourself to a gira or spiritual work is very important, without other scheduled commitments, time to leave or other worries. This is a practice that makes all the difference in the service of the guides, in concentration and in the fluidity of the energy.

For those who are mediums, it is necessary to think that the entities and the guides perform some rituals and practices, and may dirty and/or the clothes you are wearing and your hair. This is also an important detail for the surrender and the detachment of the concern.

Optional precept

Optional precepts are those that serve as exceptions for some mediums, according to their preparation for spiritual work, or to their major Orixá, in this case restrictions are performed that can be seen in the day to day and inserted in the routine of that person.

Therefore, some mediums must carry out, in addition to all the topics of the primordial precept, these other preparations that may be indicated by their Mãe de Santo, head of the terreiro or spiritual guide according to the needs verified.

It is not common to see people who go to be attended adhering to the optional precepts, but some perform them willingly, to raise their own vibration. Learn about the optional precepts by continuing reading:

Food of animal origin

Some mediums cannot consume any type of food that has animal origin, that is, milk, eggs, butter, cheese, among others, should be avoided 24 hours before the gira happens. This can happen to intensify even more the purity of the physical body and the connection with the entities, as well as by a restriction of your Orixá maior.

Discharge bath

Just as foods of animal origin can be linked to the medium's major Orixà, the bath can also contain herbs and other compositions that are specific to open and intensify this connection.

Certain types of giras and / or spiritual work that will be performed may also need more intense baths of discharge. These baths may be requested for after the end of the gira, to cleanse and open the paths of those who were present.

Steadiness of the angel

The firming of the guardian angel is a simple ritual to perform before the opening of the work, and serves to bring even more protection for the mediums, the assisted (people who perform consultations with the guides) and the team that assists throughout the gira.

Although practiced by many terreiros and spiritist centers, there are special requests for works that are more dense or for mediums who deal with more serious and heavy cases, which accumulate dense and negative energies. Therefore, the help of the guardian angel is requested through a lit white candle.

Occasional precept

When we speak of an occasional precept, it is an emergency request, which may be requested even after the spiritual work is finished. It serves to help the medium and the person being assisted by him/her, and may be carried out by both or by only one of those involved.

These precepts have several reasons to happen, but among them, the main ones are the greater concentration on solving the problem, improve and increase the connection and faith, and clean the dense energies that may have accumulated for various reasons, and provide the welfare. To know them better and understand their meanings, continue reading the topics below:

Steadiness of the angel

In some heavier cases or that involve situations of low energy, obsession and involvement of people who wish evil, the firmness of the guardian angel is requested for both the medium and the person being assisted.

To perform this firmness, many terreiros indicate only the lighting of a white candle and a prayer of the Our Father, mentalizing protection and deliverance from problems. This ritual may be requested frequently or only for the realization of the session or the completion of a cycle.

Silence

As in other temples and churches, the terreiro needs rules and order so that the gira flows in the right way and the mediums can work with quality, so in many places a vow of silence is required of those who go to be assisted or accompany the spiritual work. In this way, everyone concentrates and improves their connection with the Divine.

Orixá Time

The Orixá Tempo is represented by the tree Iroko and when invoked to appear in an Umbanda gira, it means that the mediums need a solution to a problem that is difficult to solve or a very delicate situation that requires the intervention of a superior being that has wisdom to solve adversities as soon as possible.

Iroko is also representative of ancestry, for having been the first tree planted on Earth and which gave beginning and passage to all the other Orixás, therefore, when something is beyond the power of the other guides, he is called for resolution. It can be said that he is the leader of all the sacred tree spirits.

Divine Nazarene

For the gira or spiritual work to happen in a calm way, with good energies and to be fluid, it is necessary to mentalize the Divine Nazarene and ask Him for wisdom, help from the Superior Astral and that He guides all the mediums to take care of those who need help.

It is also mentalized and requested to the Divine Nazarene the revocation of the normal precepts and the blessing to continue with the gira normally. This is a sign of respect and a form of protection for all who will be present.

Discharge bath

In the case of the bath of discharge in the occasional precept is when it is intended for the treatment of one of the assisted. For this to happen there are several reasons: energetic cleansing, protection, away fat eye, envy and breakage. And each preparation requires different ingredients, according to the case of each person.

What is the purpose of the Precept in Umbanda?

The precepts of Umbanda serve to guide the mediums and those who work helping in the opening and closing of the gira in the correct rituals, for the cleaning of the energy, the good conditions of the body, the mind and, mainly, the spirit, keeping good thoughts and good energies for the moment of attending to those who went to seek help.

There are three types of precepts that fit different situations and circumstances. The important thing is to seek to understand what the role of each one is and to show respect when, and if, you are asked to do so. It is a sign of respect. Understand more about each one of them by reading the full article!