Obeah is a system of spiritual and healing practices developed among West Africans enslaved in the West Indies.
The OBEAH or OBIA is an African word that means Sorcery, which came from West Africa in the 19th century, and spread throughout the Caribbean area. It is a type of popular magic, a combination of witchcraft and religious practices, developed among African-Americans including Voodoo, Santeria and Hoodoo.
Obeah or Obia, are practiced or practiced in Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Belize, Bahamas and also in their time in Buokas Town.
During slavery, Obeah was directed against European slave masters.
These practices were used to conquer a woman or man, or to harm him or wish death to a person, cure a disease, or attract good luck.
Jamaican peasant society considers, sorcery as a means, natural think that misfortune is often the cause of witchcraft is believed in magical alterations ..
Today I want to talk about a plant related to the spiritual world in Jamaica and the practice of Obeah due to its relationship with the spirit world and the possession of spirits. It is known as John Crow Bead.
It is a relatively small, woody and coiled creeper common throughout Jamaica in thickets, hedges and along the roadsides. It is often found climbing up fences, shrubs and trunks and branches of small trees.
This plant has colorful pea-shaped fruit clusters that open when they ripen to expose hard, smooth, bright red and black seeds. These brightly colored seeds have been used in Jamaica and in the tropics and subtropics to make amulets and amulets. Another name given to this plant is the Abrus precatorious ..
It is believed that this plant increases evil spirits
In Jamaica, spirits are most often identified as 'duppies'. They are largely of human origin, being spirits of the dead. Virtually necessary more harmful than good.
These seeds are a female and a male that must be together to make the tree grow. The female is an intense red color that covers the entire seed, while the male is red with a small black spot on the surface.
Until a new opportunity dear friends this plant is very interesting for its spiritual properties but it must be used with caution because the seeds contain abrin, which is related to ricin, and very potent. Ingestion of a single seed can kill an adult human.
referencias bibliograficas:
http://mobile.jamaicagleaner.com/20090517/arts/arts1.php