Exú and Pombagira are ancestral spirits of the Brazilian people, spirits of deceased individuals who are recognized for opening paths, providing protection, and guiding those who connect with them. This perspective may be confusing for English-speaking readers, as in the United States, ghosts are often viewed as negative energies that should be banished or removed from someone’s life. In Brazil, as well as in cultures like Japan, ancestral spirits are welcomed and respected, acting as spiritual guides throughout a medium’s journey.
Pombagira, like Exú, performs magical works but with a different energy polarity: while Exú represents masculine energy, Pombagira embodies feminine energy. Together, they complement each other, assisting in transformation, balance, and harmony in the lives of their followers, especially within practices of Umbanda, Candomblé, and Kimbanda.
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The Difference Between Ancestral Exú and Exú Orixá
Understanding the distinction is crucial:
- Ancestral Exú: Spirits of Brazilian ancestors who, in life, fulfilled roles of leadership, guidance, or protection.
- Exú Orixá: A deity from the African pantheon responsible for opening paths, connecting energies, and balancing forces.
Specializations of Exús and Pombagiras
Exús and Pombagiras may have lived centuries ago, and their names often reveal their spiritual specialization. Examples include:
- Exú Caveira: Works with mental and psychological matters, bringing clarity and protection.
- Exú Tranca Ruas das 7 Encruzilhadas: As the name suggests, opens and closes paths according to spiritual needs.
Other specializations include:
- Opening paths
- Promoting healing
- Bringing harmony
- Supporting financial flow in businesses
- Guiding recently deceased spirits
Each ancestral spirit acts strategically according to their unique role, guiding mediums in personalized ways.
The Origin and Meaning of Pombagira
The word Pombagira comes from “Pambunjila,” a Bantu term meaning “crossroads.” This highlights her symbolic role as a guardian of life decisions and crossroads. While Exú manages communication and energy, Pombagira represents feminine transformation energy, resolving emotional, social, and spiritual challenges. Both are ancestral spirits of the Brazilian people, working together in Umbanda, Candomblé, and Kimbanda.
Becoming an Ancestral Witch Spirit
It is still a mystery how a person becomes an ancestral witch spirit after death. Their transformation does not rely solely on rituals or titles during life. In life, the future ancestral spirit experiences a meaningful journey, filled with learning, successes, and mistakes. After death, as a mentor for descendants, the spirit guides the medium toward the path that best suits them, adjusting their destiny with a “third-person” perspective, observing the medium’s life and identifying the most favorable paths.
My Personal Experience with Exús and Pombagiras
Many ask how I connect with Exús and Pombagiras. At the beginning of my journey, I started at a crossroads, leaving a cigarette and a drink, sitting on the curb, and speaking to them. This is more a monologue than a conversation, as only the medium speaks initially. Gradually, the interaction grows. On my fourth visit to the crossroads near my home, the Pombagira who is my ancestor appeared to me in a dream. It was the most incredible experience I’ve ever had.
Spirits use our mediumistic abilities to communicate, sending warnings and guidance through dreams or other perceptions. My ancestral Pombagira guided me to start writing this blog, showing her presence and care.
Ancestor Worship Throughout History
Worshiping ancestors may seem unusual today, but it is a timeless practice. Honoring ancestors has existed for centuries across cultures, offering protection, wisdom, and guidance.
In Ancient Greece, rituals and offerings at tombs called heroons celebrated heroes and family members. Food, drink, and symbolic items maintained a connection with ancestors.
These traditions continue in Japan with Obon, and in Brazil through Umbanda, Candomblé, and Kimbanda, where Exús, Pombagiras, and other spirits act as ancestral guides of the Brazilian people, protecting and guiding their descendants. Offering to ancestors is a practice that preserves memory, respect, and wisdom across generations.
Energy Transmutation and Offerings
Exús and Pombagiras are masters of energy transmutation. Every offering — whether a drink, cigarette, flowers, or food — is transformed in the spiritual realm to benefit the medium.
They convert physical energy into spiritual force, purifying, amplifying, and directing vibrations according to the medium’s needs, including:
- Protection
- Opening paths
- Emotional balance
Every offering is a conscious energy exchange that strengthens the connection between the living and their ancestors.
Exú and Pombagira are not only ancestral guides but also masters of magic. They possess deep knowledge of energy manipulation and ritual work, allowing them to influence both positive and negative outcomes. While their guidance is often used to open paths, promote healing, and protect their followers, they can also execute requests for negative magic when it aligns with spiritual balance or justice. This duality highlights their profound understanding of energy, demonstrating that they are powerful and skilled practitioners capable of transforming the spiritual and material world.
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Final Thoughts
Understanding the roles of Exús and Pombagiras is essential for any spiritual practice. They are not only guardians of paths but also energy transformers and spiritual guides. They assist in decision-making, protection, healing, prosperity, and emotional balance. Respecting, invoking, and understanding their energies is vital to maintaining harmony and positive energy in a medium’s life, especially within Umbanda, Candomblé, and Kimbanda practices.
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