~ Voodoo Priestess Estate ~ ©

 Bali Sterling Silver and Brazilian Shaman's Sodalite

Libra, Ritual Healing Mala Bracelet 

 A Main Healing Altar Find

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This is another of our very long listings with an abundant text and 5 photographs, so please be patient and read the listing through.

If you have come this far we feel that you will find it was worth the wait.

Nearly twenty-two and a half years have now passed since we were called to do the estate that had been closed up for seventeen years!

The Voodoo Estate

This type of call usually gets us excited as they are a treasure trove.  Located here in Florida, there was no electricity or running water so we rigged our own lighting and in we went.  If you have ever seen the Adams Family you will have some idea as to what we were greeted with!  Then the attorney handling the liquidation gave us some background.  The estate had belonged to an alleged powerful Voodoo Priestess/JooJoo Exorcist, grand daughter of a Marie Laveau, and favored daughter of a Marie Glapion.

These names meant nothing to us, but the late night talk of Voodoo and exorcism in the old mansion did cause some uneasy feelings so we decided to spend the night in a hotel and return in the morning to assess the estate.  The rest is history. 

Our research has shown that this woman was what she claimed and was indeed descended from a long line of well known Vodoun family originating in New Orleans in the early 1800's.

We were pretty unnerved by this until we discovered they were also devout Catholics!  Although I have to admit this was unlike any Catholic home we have ever been in and some of the items found inside were a little more than unnerving.

There was no feeling of dread or unwelcome in the mansion, however there was quite a bit of contraband and other items we can or will not sell here.

This is one of a few pieces from this estate we will be listing this week, so check our other listings!

We will, upon the new guardian's request, issue a named Letter of Authenticity with each piece from this estate, complying with the terms set forth to us by the estate's attorney.

The Main Altar of Healing 
 

Found at her, "Main Altar of Healing."  This Main Altar of Healing was what amounted to a small infirmary...of sorts.  A Cabinet of Curiosities in its own right, that was located in an east facing porched hall on the first floor.  It contained many unusual artifacts with alleged healing attributes.  She does indeed record some dramatic, if not always successful treatments that she performed.  Although, we must add, her record of successful treatment, although bizarre to many, had better than a 90% cure ratio, which, if true, is rather impressive.

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The Bracelet

A swinging panel display containing these, "ritual healing mala bracelets," she had assembled to use in treating a host of physical, psychological, and metaphysical disorders were recovered from this altar room.

They were well inventoried and indexed for use, which would seem by her journal entries that these bracelets would be, "prescribed" to her patients along with certain, "healing mantra to cure their malady."  What she prescribed is a mixture of Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Native American, Hebrew, Muslim, (and a host of other), but assuredly a set of traditional religious healing practices that originated from the African diaspora.

Her journals tell us this is one of fifty-four sodalite bracelets that were custom made by herself, and/or, under her supervision by three of her staff, practitioner, followers, with materials of particular source to enhance their powers in this healing altar room..

She attributes them as, "extraordinary healers to heal mind and body which stimulate and amplify the flow of chakra energy."

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The Bracelet Components and Commentary

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The Sterling Silver

More often than not, her metal of choice was silver as she notes, "Silver is the mirror of the soul related to the moon energies.  It strengthens connections of the astral and physical bodies.  A metal unmatched in its psychic energies and healing abilities, I have used it as a spell medium, to heal the speech impaired and to help public speakers achieve eloquence.  Induced into the drink, it has expelled the toxins that caused headaches, arthritis, intestinal and blood disorders.  More importantly it attracts, enhances and stores energies of gemstones, driving out negative energies the stone may have absorbed."
 
Her journals and inventory tell us of the two sources of silver used in this bracelet.

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Los Angeles Indonesian Sterling Silver
 
Her journals and inventory tell us, the sterling silver straight toggle clasp and sixteen assorted beads and spacers used in this bracelet were purchased from an unnamed, Indonesian/American, practitioner, follower, silversmith of Los Angeles.  Being part of a group purchased over the seven year period from 1970 to 1977.
 
This was a Los Angeles Indonesian, craftswoman with four silversmiths in her employ, who also had family connections in Indonesia who acted as her buyers.
 
 Unmarked, with no maker's or assay marks, all test as .925 Sterling Silver Standard.

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The Libra Charm

According to their journals, the Libra charm used for this bracelet was purchased locally at a shop named The Barefoot Mailman.  The name of the store was a homage to South Florida's "barefoot mailmen."  Between 1885 and 1892, when no roads existed between Palm Beach and Miami, they delivered mail on foot, along a 68 mile route.  Described as "Spencers on steroids," there is a web and Facebook page dedicated to them. 

Examination reveals a hand chased Libra coin charm that measures approximately 15/16" (with bale) x 7/8" x 1/16".

It  is marked with a well worn Sterling mark and tests as .950 Silver Standard.  Go figure.

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Libra
(astrology) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, for the most part...

Duration (tropical, western)    September 22 – October 23 (2021, UT1)

Constellation        Libra

Zodiac element     Air

Zodiac quality       Cardinal

Sign ruler    Venus

Detriment   Mars

Exaltation   Saturn

Libra is the seventh astrological sign in the Zodiac.  It spans 180°–210° celestial longitude.  The Sun transits this sign on average between September 23 (September equinox) and October 22.  Under the sidereal zodiac, the Sun currently transits the constellation of Libra from approximately October 31 to November 22.  The symbol of the scales is based on the Scales of Justice held by Themis, the Greek personification of divine law and custom.  She became the inspiration for modern depictions of Lady Justice.  The ruling planet of Libra is Venus.  Libra is the only zodiac constellation represented by an inanimate object; with the other eleven signs represented by either an animal or mythological character.

Astrological Associations

Libra is the cardinal modality of the three air signs, the others being Gemini and Aquarius.  In astrology, the main connotations of planets under this sign are sociable, rational, and detached when dealing with situations.  Libra is symbolized by the scales and is associated with the Roman deity Iustitia.  According to the writer Manilius, Roman judges are born under the sign of Libra.

 The Moon was said to be in Libra when Rome was founded and this was based on the historical passage, which state "qua condita Roma."  Everything was balanced under this righteous sign.  Manilius once said that Libra was the sign "in which the seasons are balanced." Both the hours of the day and the hours of the night match each other.  Thus why the Romans put so much trust in the "balanced sign."  Going back to ancient Greek times, Libra the constellation between Virgo and Scorpio used to be ruled over by the constellation of Scorpio.  They called the area the Latin word "chelae," which translated to "the claws" which can help identify the individual stars that make up the full constellation of Libra, since it was so closely identified with the Scorpion constellation in the sky.

According to tropical astrology, the Sun enters Libra when it reaches the northern autumnal equinox and the southern vernal equinox, occurring around September 22.

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Brazilian Shaman's Sodalite
 
Her journals and inventory go on to tell us the fifteen, 11.1125 mm round sodalite beads used in this bracelet were ground for her in New Mexico in 1963, by an unnamed practitioner, follower and lapidary, from large rough specimen she brought back from her 1962 Brazilian Shaman artifact hunt.  Although she does not name them in her notes she solicited a handful of Brazilian holy men, healers, sorcerers  and seers to act as guides to her party, and relinquish some of their precious finds, usually in trade for guns. 

Her journals also tell us, "these have been induced with charges of healing in a group session that included our guides and those so inclined in our party." 

She also writes of this source of sodalite as being highly regarded by these Shaman for its cleansing and healing abilities, and  that their spells had enhanced them.

Some of her other journal entries concerning this source of sodalite read; "It's subtle energies lead to new paths of psychic development.  They shield their user from negative energy sources and have proven useful in treating those with metabolic and internal disorders."

"A meditation stone that clears large areas, and the minds of all within its range, allowing formation of rational thought under duress.  This energy releases accumulated stress and its ensuing confusion to bring a level of well being.  This clearness of thought allows understanding of the emotions that drive us and as such, allows the freedom to verbalize these thoughts.  This is a calming stone that stimulates physical healing from maladies caused from stress, anxiety, fear and anger." 

“These large, calcite infused sodalites generate a calming energy that puts everyone near them at peace as it aligns their chakra and calms the subconscious mind.”

“I find these especially useful in treating thyroid disorders.  Simple placement beneath the pillow during sleep has caused relief from symptoms and prolonged treatment has affected cures.  This is also helpful in honing communication skills and speech disorders, which leads to higher levels of confidence to those so afflicted.”

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The beads are of very good grind that have been cut from natural sodalite specimen of pale blue color that is predominantly included with white calcite and numerous flecks of aegirine-augite.

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All of these have been hand strung and knotted with dyed navy blue yak sinew to form this unusual healing mala bracelet measuring approximately 8 3/4" in overall length.

The bracelet weighs 31.7 grams.

She writes of the acquisition of a large quantity of this sinew from a "Chinese healer and talisman maker known for and sought for his works" purchased at the Namche Bazaar of Nepal in 1928.

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It is certainly an unusual vintage mala bracelet with an extraordinary provenance, that is much nicer then the photographs have been able to depict.

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We have been contacted and visited by a number of people who were interested in the items from this estate since our first batch was listed. Among the buyers have been known psychics and practitioners.  More than one, after adorning themselves or handling their purchase, stated "this is a woman of power!"  Many of our customers, after receiving items from this estate have reported dream contacts and other unexplained phenomenon.
 
Unusual, authentic Voodoo Priestess Estate piece and at a bargain price!
 
This is truly a rare opportunity to own anything with attributes to this estate.
 
The majority of this estate is now gone.  Most of what we had left, and it was considerable, has been split up and sold to a couple of private, foreign collector practitioners and will never be available to the public again.  We made the decision to do this as we have had some pretty strange visits from even stranger individuals and there have been enough unexplained phenomenon going on in the warehouse where her things were kept that many of our employees refused to go in there.  The pieces offered and sold here are some of the few remaining pieces that will ever be offered to the public.
 
Nice addition to any collection, altar, wardrobe or decor, displays really well.
 
Really doesn't get any better than this.
 
There are 5 photographs to tell the rest of this tale and we hope you enjoyed the listing. 
 
Buyer to pay our discounted shipping charge of $6.66  for Insured USPS Ground Advantage Mail with Tracking, handling and lagniappe.

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Rest assured your order will be carefully packed to withstand the onslaught of the most deranged of Postal Workers.
 

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Payment is due at listing end.

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©Text and Photos Copyright 2001-2024 bushidobuce, all rights reserved. 

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