Umbanda

Umbanda is a uniquely Brazilian religion, born from the meeting of African, Indigenous, and European spiritual traditions, yet following a rhythm and vision all its own. It is not Santería and it is not Candomblé. Although it shares some ancestral roots, its ceremonies, spirits, and cosmology move to a different beat. Where Candomblé preserves the rites of specific African nations and Santería centres on the worship of the Orishas through strict initiatory lineages, Umbanda opens its circle to a wider spiritual family. Its guiding spirits are not distant deities but approachable allies such as Caboclos, Preto Velhos, Exús, Pomba Giras and others who speak directly to those who seek them, offering healing, guidance, and protection without the barriers of language or complex ritual obligation.

The rhythm of Umbanda is lighter, flowing, and melodic, blending drumming patterns, songs, and dances that call the spirits in a way that is both uplifting and deeply moving. It is a religion of service, where charity is not only a virtue but a form of worship. Ceremonies are alive with joy, colour, and movement, yet always rooted in respect for the sacred. Unlike some other Afro-Atlantic faiths, Umbanda rarely involves the expense of elaborate ritual obligations or costly initiations. It generally does not employ animal sacrifice, instead favouring offerings of flowers, candles, fruit, drinks, and song. This makes it both accessible and inviting, without diminishing the depth of its spiritual work.

For those drawn to living traditions but hesitant about rigid hierarchies, high costs, or closed priesthoods, Umbanda offers a welcoming path. It is a faith that values personal experience, openness, and the direct presence of the spirits, inviting all into a space where ancestry, nature, and the divine meet in harmony.

SARAVA UMBANDA: Exploring the mysteries of Umbanda with myths, legends, songs, prayers and practical ways to serve the spirits is a ground-breaking and deeply personal journey into one of Brazil’s most powerful and often misunderstood spiritual traditions. Rooted in Bantu cosmology, enriched by Indigenous wisdom, shaped by Catholic devotion and Kardecist Spiritism, and animated by the living voices of spirit, Umbanda offers a path of healing, service, and transformation unlike any other.

Whether you are new to the tradition or walking the path already, this book is both companion and teacher. Grounded in respect and spiritual integrity, shaped by ritual experience, and guided by the spirits themselves, Sarava Umbanda is an invitation to step into the sacred current, and let it transform you from the inside out.

Everyday Axé: Daily Rituals, Spirit Work, and the Power of the Orixás is a gentle yet powerful guide to Umbanda, the beautiful Afro-Brazilian path where spirit meets nature, and every prayer is an act of connection. This book is filled with real spiritual wisdom. Not abstract ideas or distant theory, but everyday tools and rituals for anyone who wants to walk with the orixás and their guiding spirits.

With clear, heartfelt language and a deep respect for tradition, this book introduces readers to the core of Umbanda, one of the lesser known orixá traditions of the Americas. From setting up a home altar and preparing spiritual baths, to understanding dreams, working with guardian spirits, and offering thanks with meaning, Everyday Axé is a practical and soulful companion for spiritual seekers drawn to the forces of nature and the mysteries of the orixás

Echoes of the Divine: The Orixás of Umbanda and Their Living Mysteries is a powerful and poetic exploration of one of Brazil’s most vibrant spiritual traditions. Rooted in African ancestry, Indigenous reverence, and Spiritist thought, Umbanda is a living religion that honours the orixás as radiant forces of nature - guides, guardians, and divine companions in our everyday lives.

With clarity, depth, and devotion, this book explores the myths, energies, and daily presence of the orixás, from Oxalá’s serenity to Iansã’s winds, from the sweetness of Oxum to the fierce justice of Xangô. This is a deeply practical and profoundly reverent guide for those who feel the call. Whether you're new to Umbanda or walking the path already, this book invites you into the heart of a tradition that does not ask for perfection, only presence.

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The Legions of St Michael: Saints, Angels, and the Powers of Light in Umbanda unveils the sacred connection between celestial beings and the vibrant spiritual tradition of Umbanda. This richly detailed journey explores the lives, virtues, and workings of saints and angels as they walk beside devotees, offering healing, protection, justice, and guidance through life’s challenges.

Drawing deeply from Brazilian devotion and Umbanda practice, the book invites readers to cultivate intimate relationships with these luminous forces, illuminating the path of faith with quiet power and radiant grace. Whether a seeker or practitioner, this book offers profound insights and practical rituals to awaken the light within and live in harmony with the legions of heaven.

THE ORACLE OF LIGHT AND SHADOW: Lenormand Cards for Mediumship Development and Spiritual Practice Rooted in the living tradition of Umbanda, The Oracle of Light and Shadow offers a profound guide to using Lenormand cards for more than fortune-telling. Here, divination becomes devotion. Each card becomes a key. Each reading becomes a ritual. Whether you work with the Orixás or spirit guides, this book shows how the Lenormand deck can open channels of mediumship, diagnosis, guidance, and sacred connection.

Written by a long-term practitioner, this book honours both the tradition and the mystery. It teaches you not just how to read, but how to listen. How to serve. How to walk the line between the seen and unseen.

THE GAME OF DESTINY – Fortune Telling with Lenormand Cards
Mlle Lenormand was without doubt one of the most celebrated and gifted fortune tellers of all time. Her life was steeped in mystery and wonder, and her cards carry that same aura of intrigue. The Game of Destiny is the most comprehensive book ever published on the fortune telling cards of Mlle Lenormand. Within its pages you will find the meanings of all 36 cards, interpretations of card combinations, special symbolic insights, and a variety of spreads unique to this divination system. For the first time, this book reveals in detail how the cards work and how they can offer remarkably accurate answers to questions about love, friendship, family, career, health, and spiritual matters. An additional chapter explores how to call upon the aid of the Gypsy Spirits in card divination, along with practical ideas and recipes to assist both clients and readers. Whether you are a beginner seeking clear guidance or an experienced practitioner wishing to deepen your practice, The Game of Destiny is an invaluable guide to this elegant and powerful method of fortune telling.

Umbanda

Mario dos Ventos