Caboclo

In Spiritist traditions of Brazil, Caboclos are the souls of indigenous Brazilians, especially inhabitants of the Amazonian forests. They are deified ancestors of individuals and the Brazilian nation. Caboclos are hunters, warriors, healers, and shamans. There are male and female Caboclos. (Females are Caboclas.) Caboclo children are called Caboclinhos. There are an infinite number of Caboclo spirits, and although some are famous, most are known only to the mortals with whom they communicate. Thus every person may work with a different Caboclo.

Caboclos communicate via spirit mediums as well as directly to individuals. They appear in dreams or visions. Caboclos are extremely active, vigorous, and articulate spirits. They are excellent communicators, adept at offering guidance and advice.

In non-mystic circles of Brazil, the term Caboclo is sometimes used to refer to people of mixed African and indigenous ancestry and may be considered derogatory. However, in the context of spiritual traditions like Umbanda and Macumba, Caboclo refers exclusively to spirits of Brazilian Indians and is spoken with respect.

Caboclos possess their own realm called Jurema, a mythic paradise in the mato, the Brazilian jungle, presided over by the Cabocla goddess Jurema. An alternative scenario suggests that they dwell in the realm of Aruanda with another family of Brazilian spirits, the Pretos Velhos. (Aruanda’s name derives from Luanda, once a major slaving port in Angola and the point of embarkation for many Pretos Velhos.)

In Yoruba-oriented traditions, Oxossi is chief of Caboclos.

**Altars:** If at all possible, offerings are given outdoors, ideally near trees or even hung from trees. If this is not possible, create an indoor forest for them via houseplants. Place food offerings on mats set on the floor so that they can sit and eat.

**Sacred animals:** Amazonian animals in general, but especially snakes

**Offerings:** Roast corn; plantains; pineapples; melons; tobacco, especially cigars

**See Also:** Jurema; Ochossi; Pretos Velhos

## Caboclo of the Seven Crossroads

**Also known as:** Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas (Portuguese)

In the early twentieth century, conventional medical treatment failed to heal the paralysis suffered by a young man from Rio de Janeiro named Zélio de Morais. His father, seeking spiritual solutions, brought Zélio to the Brazilian Spiritist Federation. It was a time of conflict among Brazilian spiritualists. Brazilian Spiritualism is based on the teachings of Allan Kardec and is known as Spiritism. Kardec was from France; the system originated in Europe. Some wished to keep the tradition exclusively European and white; others wished to incorporate African practices.

As a result of colonialism and slavery, tremendous numbers of Africans and Indians had suffered death and inadequate funeral rites on Brazilian soil, yet their souls were not honoured or propitiated. Although many practitioners of Kardecian Spiritism were of African or mixed descent, attempts to honour or incorporate souls of deceased Africans or Indians into Spiritist traditions were officially rebuffed. Rather than being given respect, they were insulted and described as “low spirits.”At the Federation, Zélio received a visitation from a spirit identifying himself as a Jesuit priest, who revealed that Zélio’s illness indicated his spiritual mission to found a brand-new Brazilian tradition, which would incorporate devotion and propitiation of Caboclos, souls of Brazilian Indians, and Pretos Velhos, souls of Africans enslaved in Brazil. The Jesuit told Zélio to await further instruction.

Zélio went home and miraculously recovered. Shortly afterward, he received a visitation from a spirit identifying himself as the Caboclo of the Seven Crossroads, several centuries old. He told Zélio to found a new religion called Umbanda incorporating indigenous Brazilian, European, and African spirits and promised to reveal doctrines and rituals. Soon after, Zélio de Morais officially inaugurated Umbanda. Many consider Seven Crossroads to be the patron and spirit founder of Umbanda. He continues to communicate with spirit mediums.

**See also:** Pretos Velhos

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes