This sealed vinyl Mexican package amulet is carried for the increase of wealth. Packed in its 3 1/2" x 2 3/4" span is a powerful confluence of African, Catholic, and folkloric elements.
On the left is a print of the Seven African Powers -- Chango, Orula, Ogum, Elegua, Obatala, Yemalla, and Ochun. These "Powers" -- holy spirits worshipped by the Yoruban people of West Africa -- have been conflated with Catholic saints in Latin American syncretistic religions such as Santeria and Candomble.
On the right, a print of the Catholic Holy Trinity is augmented by three used coins of small denomination. The type of coin varies from package to package, but each package contains three coins of the same denomination and approximately the same date. Like the silver "Mercury" dimes used in some African-American mojo hands, these coins work on the principle of sympathetic magic to draw more money to the bearer.
On the back of the cards there are two invocations.
The prayer on the back of the Seven African Powers reads as follows in translation:
I open my doors at last with good faith in the seven Spirits of Fortune. I hope they will arrive at my house one day, and happiness and health will be at my doorstep. For the seven Principle Cities, for the seven Sacred Books, for the seven Candles from the Temple of Solomon, for the seven Bones from the Head of God, for the Holy Guardian Angels, Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Raphael, Saint Gabriel, the Guide and Guard of God. And may the benediction of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, descend upon us. Amen.
The prayer on the back of the Holy Trinity and coins is more conventionally religious in nature and requests Divine Providence to grant the supplicant's desires for health and happiness.
Here are all the illustrated package amulet pages in the Lucky W Amulet Archive:
SEARCH THIS SITE: a local search
engine and a named link to each Lucky Mojo page
Lucky Mojo Site
Map: a descriptive entry-level index to the whole Lucky Mojo
pile
Lucky W Amulet
Archive Home Page: an online museum of folk-magic charms
Sacred Sex Home
Page: essays on tantra yoga, karezza, sex magic, and sex worship
The Sacred
Landscape Home Page: essays on archaeoastronomy and sacred
geometry
Freemasonry for
Women Home Page: a history of mixed-gender Freemasonic lodges
The
Lucky Mojo Curio Co.: manufacturers of spiritual supplies for
hoodoo and conjure
The Comics
Warehouse: a source for back-issues of comic books and trading
cards
catherine
yronwode, the eclectic and eccentric author of all the above web
pages
nagasiva
yronwode: tyaginator, nigris (333), nocTifer,
lorax666, boboroshi, !
The Lucky Mojo
Esoteric Archive: captured internet files on occult and
spiritual topics
copyright © 1995-2000 catherine yronwode. All rights reserved.
Send your comments to: cat yronwode.
