THE BOVEDA OR SPIRITUAL ALTAR

Well I want to introduce what espiritistas call a Boveda. Similar to that of alt
ar---with a different approach. One must not associate Boveda's or spiritual alt
ars dedicated to spirits or our anscestors as Oricha altars.
One can not get in contact with any Oricha via a spiritual alter, card reading,
or medium. Oricha only talks thru the concept of Diloggun divination. The dilogg
un is the mouth piece of Oricha. Please do not be mislead. Oricha rarely comes v
ia dreams. There are plenty of elders in this tradition that will tell you Flat
out ORICHA does not come in dreams. However, there exists spirits with in our sp
iritual frame that present these dreams and we interpret that the oricha has com
unicated with us, when in fact thats not the case. Again Oricha only speaks via
possesion or diloggun.
La Boveda Espiritual!!.
Boveda is the table where we honor our egguns! Some initiate a boveda with just
one glass to start with! It's always best to start slow and not overwhelm yourse
lf. Learning the concept of the boveda is better to understand it vs. setting it
up and not know the entire objective and purpose of a boveda espiritual. One of
the biggest misconceptions is that the boveda has nothing to do with oricha. Th
e boveda itself is a tool for espiritismo!
Santo is santo and Espiritismo is Espiritismo! Muerto is Muerto---they correlate
but they are not all in the same, specifically to service delivery/worship. Its
true Iku Lobi Ocha! Sin el muerto no hay santo! And why must we conduct misa's
first.....because there are those spirits, egguns, ansestors in our frame that a
re in agreement and are not in agreement to the path of Oricha!
Some of these spirits never in there past lives practiced a faith that is not in
harmony with theres. For example, If a person has a spiritual frame that is mad
e up by many priest, nuns etc., naturally they can and will appose for the indiv
idual not to pass to Ocha! This doesn't usually happen, however, there has been
some cases where this has occured and of course the solution to that would rely
on having multiple investigated misas and conducting multiple ebbos to appease t
hese spirits/egguns/ansecstors.
La Regla de Ocha is not for everyone. So in order to align our spirits we need t
his tool ---Boveda/ White Table. This tool being from espiritismo is the tool th
at assists us to get closer and become one with our spirits guides. Our muertos
(spirit guides) are the ones that elevate us spiritually so that we can grow in
life and give us their immediate intervention to bring resolution to existing is
sues or dilemmas in our current lives.
How do we construct our boveda? This depends on everyone, Some use 9 glasses som
e use 7 glasses you would have to seek the intervention and direction of your go
dparent.
THIS IS HOW I RECOMEND TO CONSTRUCT THE BOVEDA:
The table should be dressed with a white cloth.
You should have a crucifix placed on or in your large glass.Why? this will let t
he spirits that walk the earth know that this boveda is strickly in harmony with
god almighty. It is believed that with out the cross you allow yourself open to
any muertos (spirits) that seeks light. This can cause a lot of issues.
You can say prayers at the table/boveda. Many use the book entitled Colecion De
Oraciones/Selected Prayers, by Allen Kardec.
table should consist of 9 glasses.
One large glass dedicated to your spiritual guide or known as ---tu guia espirit
ual, the other 8 glasses are dedicated to various spirits that walk with you or
have been established for the table via investigated misas (spiritual masses)
The Boveda should be attended on a daily basis along with saying your prayers. A
nd once a week clean the table, and refill each glass with new water. Light your
boveda: with a 7 day white candle.
As you progress you may have to add a different cup or items for a specific spir
it/s, or objects that may represent that spirit/s.
Furthermore, setting your glasses in a circle represents and invokes protection.

The middle Large glass is for Olofi/Olodumare! Some of the other items that can
or will be add are rocks, shells, bells, an Incense burner, cigars, black coffee
, perfume, holy water, white flowers, eggun stick---with 9 color ribbons with be
lls, bible, rosery, catholic saints---although here is an issue:
There are those that dont believe that Santeros should deal with catholic saints
----our egguns once upon a time worked and worshiped with those saints, to say n
ot to is to deny their form of worship. Some place food to the boveda, some will
say no.
At the end this IS YOUR spiritual boveda/table. No one cant tell you---you cant
have what you put on it----as long as an object or doll, statue et.al hasnt been
fed eyebale ( blood), you will be cool.
Maferefun Eggun and Maferefun Oricha
Ochareo!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
yemayashijaJune 14th, 2008, 01:23 AM
Originally Posted by Artiste-LiLi
In regards to the boveda, do you have color recommendations, suggestions or reco
mmendations for placement within one's home, things to include in the boveda (gi
fts, items such as shells, candy, tobacco, etc), how does one know which spirits
(other than ancestors) to honour and how does one go about "elevating" them?
I know how we do these things in my family....I am most curious and interested t
o learn about other traditions' ways.
Thank you!
________________________________________________________________________________
__
okay my personal way to set up my boveda was this:
choose an area clean and free of clutter. and in a room where it could be quiet
so i could concentrate and meditate in front of it. my personal choice where i "
felt" it should be was the heart or center of my home on a wall that faced east.
it took me several times moving it around until i felt where it belonged, i am s
ure this will be true for all.
the size and shape of the table you use is up to you, and it will grow as time g
oes by so don't worry about it.
clean your table physically and spiritually. everyone has their own preference a
s to what removes negative energy, so utilize what is preferred by you.
personally i was taught to take water, add in cascarilla powder(which is finely
ground egg shell ), florida water and white flower petals. i say a prayer or ded
ication for the intent of the cleaner over the bucket. i use this to first clean
se myself (just a wipe over). face, neck, trunk, front and back of legs and arms
/hands. then i cleanse my table with just a little over every surface of the tab
le and splash around the room to remove negative energy and spirits.
place a WHITE tablecloth on the table. start with one large glass of water and p
lace it on the table, most stand a crucifix in the glass (any size) or above the
glass. as you probably seen, mine is on the wall above, this is becaue my prima
ry spirit guide was not christian. but other spirits in my court were so i put i
t on the wall above.
take a 7 day candle (white only) and place it beside the glass after you have cl
eaned and prepared it. for those of us that are brujas (witches) this is a must
anyway.
a vase with white flowers.
some people include pictures of their ancesters, or a piece of paper with their
names written on it, i prefer to keep those inside my table.
i included on my boveda a small plate to hold offerings and or cigars.
i say a prayer over the table and the items i have placed out to bless the space
. the one you choose is personal and can be any you feel appropriate.
i light a cigar and as i smoke the items on the table and area surrounding them
i explain that this is their place, to come to be with me, to guide me, and enli
ghten me, and that anything i place here is for them. (placing the cigar backwar
ds into your mouth and blowing the smoke through the opening in it onto all the
items)
i then begin dedicating the glass, announcing to all the spirits in my spiritual
court that this glass is for all of them to drink from as they need, and that t
he candle is to give them energy and light to guide their way. i light the candl
e of course:) and tell them that i wish for them to let me know the things they
like or desire so i can place them here for them. to as they can present themsel
ves to me so that i can know them better. i ask them to make their presence know
n and for a way for me to know it is them.
i then say a prayer asking that they become enlightened, and achieve elevation i
n the spiritual plane. that they be there to guide and continue to protect me fr
om the things i am not aware of, and that they help me to achieve my goals.
some use Kardec's book of prayers, i do sometimes; but i much prefer to just tal
k to them. you should be sitting at your boveda meditating, talking, telling the
m about your day, your happy events ad things that are worrying you. here is whe
re you go for guidance, for protection and enlightenment on your own.
you should greet your spirits when you wake, when you enter your home, and whene
ver you feel like it. you should bid them goodnight, and tell them when you are
leaving so they can watchover you and your home. you will now know and feel like
you are never alone.
as time goes by and you get dreams or feelings that other items are needed on yo
ur boveda you can add them. just remember nothing alive is to go on this table,
nor pictures of people who are still living. as you add glasses always keep your
large center glass for your unknown/unnammed spirits and your primary spiritual
guide.
water, candle and flowers are to be changed atleast every week.
and this boveda is to be kept very clean at all times.