Meaning of Ebó

The origin of the word Ebó comes from Yoruba, one of the languages spoken in Nigeria, more specifically, by Yoruba people south of the Sahara. In Brazil, besides being the language practiced among candomblecistas, it is officially an intangible heritage of the state of Rio de Janeiro.

In this sense, Ebó, translated into the Brazilian language means sacrifice, which, however, is a sacred work, done as an offering or for cleansing. For the latter, the ritual must be duly recommended by the Oracle of the house that was consulted.

In addition, the performance of Ebó cannot be done in just any way, as it demands a change in the behavior of the individual for whom the ritual was recommended. In this article you will understand more about this sacred craft and its offertory nature in other religions.

How Ebó is made

The Ebó should not be done by those who are in mediumistic development, only the spiritual leader of the terreiro can and should perform this ritual, because he is the one who has the necessary firmness for such. In this part of the article you will understand the fundamental characteristics for an Ebó to be done.

What an Ebó is composed of

The first element of Ebó is a change of behavior and from bad habits to healthier ones. The materials used in the offering vary because they depend on the purpose, for example, for prosperity and health the elements are different and, most importantly, take a lot of good spiritual energy.

The Ebó should be practiced by those who have the high development of mediumship. It is a form of offering to an Orixá in favor of something, however, each person has a need, so first of all the Oracle should be consulted.

This occurs because the Ebó is a ritual of strong energies, in addition, the Oracle is the one who will direct the ritual and say what is needed in a way that corresponds to the life needs of the person consulted.

White or dry Ebós

Not in all rituals the bleeding of animals occurs and they are called white or dry. In them this kind of sacrifice is not allowed, so when they are used, these animals are released in nature and alive.

However, the correct use of each element in the ritual that is specified for the Odu has been revealed in advance by the Oracle through the cowrie shells. When there is an Eboe with animals one must have the mentality that the animal will not be sacrificed, but that the energy will be returned to the Orixas.

Ebós for spiritual cleansing

Spiritual cleansing Ebós are used to eliminate negativity and clear the paths of life in various ways. The Ebó de Araiê is an example of this, this work that is done to dispel negativity from Egun and Exú.

Another Ebó not only of cleansing, but of alignment is the Eledá, made to strengthen the direct connection with God. The Ebo-Alafia is an offering to achieve tranquility. In all cases the Ebós are decorated with food, the music of the ritual and the Babalorixá who is the spiritual leader of the terreiro.

What Ebós are for

There is a specific Ebó for each need of the person consulted, which, in turn, was read by the Oracle of the house. And when it becomes necessary, this ritual happens and nothing is indiscriminate, nothing is by one's own will, because one follows the orders of Òrunmìlá, òrìsá.

The deity, in turn, is witness to everything that happens and will happen in the universe, he, through his Odus, brings all the necessary messages to the good life and if this includes sacrifices it will be done as directed.

You should not make an Ebó on your own and in any place. It is imperative to look for a Babalorixá or an Ialorixá to recommend and do it.

Fundamental elements for the effectiveness of an Ebó

There are several elements that contribute and ensure that the Ebó has the effect that is intended. However, it is important to get rid of the idea that the ritual is like any cake recipe. In this sense, the first fundamental element is the change of behavior.

If the Ebó is for health, this change of behavior is mandatory. Thus, to stop smoking, not to consume alcoholic beverages, among other recommendations given by the Oracle of the candomblé house, as well as to take precautions before and after the Ebó.

Another, and no less important, characteristic that guarantees the effectiveness of an Ebó is the quality of materials and food. Because it is an offering to draw the attention of the Orixá everything must be impeccable.

Energy capacitor elements

Ebós are not magic, nor can they be done like any other recipe. It is a work done using the energies of the person for whom the ritual was designed and, mainly, of the Babalorixá who is conducting it. It is at these moments that the energy condensing elements come in.

Energy condensers are important so that they can capture the bad energies that are being captured during the Ebó. The most common are the earth, sea water. In the realm of vegetables such as cedar, elm, poplar, corn kernels, straw, rue, pine nuts.

The energy removed from the Ebó is dissipated or transferred to these elements also through baths with the herbs or returned to nature as in the case of land and sea water. So that in this way the individual can return to his natural state of mind.

Bioelectric capacitor animals

As much as it may not seem so, there is science in the religious rituals of Candomblé and Ebó could not be different. Thus, we have the bioelectric condensers, i.e., living beings that absorb for themselves the energies and also emit. And they are nothing more than some very specific animals.

The frog, the owl, the bat and the cat for example, according to scientific conclusion, are powerful captors of electromagnetic energies from the environment and from the people. And for that, they also work almost as if they were stone filters that absorb the debris from the water.

Each animal has its energetic potential and medicine, as in the case of the cat. Others are spiritually higher with very little understood powers.

The Offering Nature of Ebós

The Ebó is always an offering for the Orixás to grant some request for help, cleansing and opening of paths such as prosperity. However, they are always sought when people are experiencing misfortune. In this section of the article understand the offering nature of Ebós.

Ebó in Umbanda

Ebó is common in Umbanda and just like in Candomblé, it is based on the Yoruba culture and is also an offering, a sacrifice according to the translation of the language. It serves to attract prosperity and release the paths of life.

However, there are several places where an Ebó can be done, such as at the feet of a settlement of an Orixá or of some type of Egun or at a spiritual force point. However, the ritual must be passed on by a leader of the Umbanda house after consulting the Oracle.

Ebó in candomblé

In candomblé, Ebós are done to correct various types of spiritual deficiencies in one's life. It is not recommended to seek an Ebó when one is already sick. Everything happens according to a consultation with the Oracle.

If in the consultation of the shells, the consulter, that is, the individual, was informed that there is a risk of accident or illness, then the Oracle of the house will recommend the ritual and all the necessary materials to do so as well as the safeguards. In candomblé there are Ebós for health, work, family harmony and spiritual balance.

Ebós offered to orixás

For each type of Ebó there is a different purpose and also different materials. However, there is also the Ebó of thanksgiving which is also allowed. This, in turn, can be offered to the Orixá as a form of approaching the same.

For all purposes, the Ebó offered to the Orixá puts you in balance and harmony, besides giving a positive karmic sense to the consulter. However, it is through the game of shells that will be defined for which Orixá the Ebó will be done.

Ebós offered to entities

The entities are a part of the energy of the Orixás that act in the material and spiritual world. To make an Ebó you must know them and believe in them. However, you must know the divinity and its history to know what pleases you.

Although it is not an obligation, when the Ebó is passed it is important to do so. Generally, it is recommended after a game of cowrie shells by the Oracle of the candomblé house.

Ebós offered to Odus

The Odu is like the head, because within it there are some segments that command life. One can think of the Odu as an energy that has its positivity and negativity. In this sense, the Ebó can be taken to remove the negativity of your Odu.

For the Yoruba culture, in the Odu there will always be positive and negative, because they are natural orders by which the human being was created. The difference is that the positive part has to be higher than the negative.

What happens after the Ebó

All phases of the Ebó are important, the individual needs to protect himself before, but especially after the work is done to ensure the retention or dissipation of the energies used. Understand, therefore, what happens after everything is done.

The stabling

The protection, also called precept in some religious houses, is recommended by the Oracle before and after the Ebó. This occurs for the purification of the body, energies and strengthening of intention.

At the time of its recommendation, the resguardo is something that is forbidden to be done during a time that is determined by the Babalorixá or Ialorixá. It is, in turn, uncomfortable, but very necessary.

Still in this sense, the protection is a matter of strength and also of making the individual, for whom the sacrifice was designated, the lord of his will. But mainly so that there is no interference from energies other than those of the Orixá.

Deadline for Ebó effect

After making sure to fulfill all the safeguards, there is a standard time frame of seven days for the completion of the Ebó. However, its effects and the time of its effects vary depending on what type of Ebó was done. The idea is that they are felt immediately.

Every Ebó requires an energy of good intentions as well as seriousness and faith. It also requires great energy from the Babalorixá who conducted it. Whenever the offering is made there is an evident spiritual cleansing on the part of the individual who made it.

In this way, the time for the Ebó's effect is felt very quickly, that is, the Orixá has attended to your request.

Contraindications in the performance of Ebós

Ebos are sacred offerings, and for this reason, they should not be taken to harm another person. It is worth remembering that this ritual is made from a lot of karmic energy, so bad intentions are harmful to everyone.

But, there are other things that cannot, in any way, be present in any of the Ebó processes. Read on to find out what they are.

Do not offer directly to Olorun

Olorum is the creator of the world and of the Orixás, therefore, the Ebó should be offered to him first. In this sense, it is part of the offering process, but it is up to the experienced Babalorixá to include this in the process.

This, however, is not a detail, it is an inseparable part of the Ebó, so not doing it is risking that the offering is not received by the Orixá and that the paths for healing and resolution of problems are not released.

Do not offer to Eguns

All Eguns are spirits of people who have already died. In the Angolan nation they are worshipped, but in Brazil they are obsessive spirits or spirits in need of light. Therefore, Ebó is not offered to the Eguns.

On the other hand, one should not confuse them with Egungun, which are the spirits of ancestors and illustrious ancestors. In any case, one does not make Ebó for both, but for Olorun and the Orixás.

Do not use the Ebó for evil purposes

In no way the Ebó can be prepared for evil purposes. Nor can they be made to harm another person because the offering has karmic energies, so they can be automatically addressed to the person interested in making it for such.

Although on the internet there are Ebos for all purposes, neither candomblé or umbanda approve of making the offering for intentions contrary to good ones.

After the Ebó will we obtain what we ask for?

When the Ebó was recommended by the Oracle and done according to what was said by the Oracle, from the materials to the safeguards, you always get what you asked for. This is because the energy released from the sacrifice is very strong.

After all the negativity is removed, life flows, causing physical and emotional health to improve instantly. There is peace of mind gained in many ways including freedom from serious accidents.

Living in harmony is also something that the Ebó can bring, but for this to happen it must be recommended for this purpose as well as the intention transmitted. Nevertheless, it should never be done on its own.