THE BIRTH OF UMBANDA
Zelio Fernandino de Moraes, a 17 year old young man was invited to a spiritual work with the spiritist federation on November, 15th 1908. For many years, Zelio had episodes where he spoke in the voice of an old man. His family and doctor deemed him mentally ill.
During the work Zelio was overtaken by a spirit and stood up at the table. The leader of the work Sr. Jose de Sousa was clairvoyant and saw that Zelio had incorporated a spirit (which was contrary to the norms of the spiritist federation at that time.) Sr. Jose invited the spirit to sit at the table. The spirit refused stating that the table was lacking a flower. The spirit left the building and picked a white rose from the garden outside. He returned and placed the rose in glass at the table.
Sr. José asked the spirit “Who are you occupying the body of this young man?”
The spirit replied “Me? I am just a Brazilian Caboclo?”
The spirits of Caboclos (indigenous Bazilians) and Pretos Velhos (former slaves), at that time, were not seen as illuminated beings but as backwards, undeveloped spirits in need of spiritual indoctrination and education.
Sr. José said “You identify yourself as a mere Caboclo but I see you dressed in the remnants of clerical robes.”
The spirit, ”What you see in me are the remains of a previous existence. I was a priest. My name was Gabriel Malagrida. I was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake during the Inquisition, after I predicted the earthquake that destroyed Lisbon in 1755. However, in my last physical existence God granted me the privilege of being born as a Brazilian Caboclo.”
Sr. José, “And what is your name?”
The spirit answered, “If I must have a name, you can call me Caboclo of the Seven Crossroads, because no path is closed to me. I bring to you, Umbanda, a religion that establishes harmony to families and will last until the end of time. “
Sr. José said, “Aren’t there enough religions already?” implying that spiritism was sufficient and there is no need for a religion led by “backwards” spirits.
Caboclo Seven Crossraods, “God in his infinite goodness, has set death, as the universal equalizer, where powerful or rich or poor or humble, all become equal in death. But you prejudiced men, not content to establish your prejudices only amongst the living, now seek to bring these unjust prejudices even beyond the barrier of death. Why can’t these humble workers, despite the fact of not being seen as important on earth, bring messages from the beyond? Are they not children of the same God? Tomorrow at my instruments house there will be a table set. Any spirit that wants or needs to manifest itself, regardless of its status in its earthly life, will be allowed to manifest itself and everyone will listen. We learn from the spirits who know more and teach those who know less. And none will turn there backs or say no, because this is the will of the Father.”
And so in this dramatic way, the tradition of Umbanda was established. The spirits of indigenous peoples from the Americas and from Africa that were murdered or tortured and enslaved have now returned to teach the children of the culture that treated them so with such cruelty and inhumanity. It is God’s grace and kindness that now brings to us the light of these indigenous cultures that in past generations we could not recognize.
