Cascarilla is the real magickal white powder used in African Traditional Religions. In my post How to Use Cascarilla I talk about how this ingredient “commonly pronounced kas-kah-REE-yah, is a powerful protection ingredient used in La Regla Lucumi, more widely known as Santeria. Originally the substance was made from the powdered bark of the Croton Eleuteria, which is also known as Sweetwood Bark and Bahama Cascarilla. Medically that plant was used as a tonic, an expectorant, to stop excessive farting, and also for “nocturnal pollutions.'” Some say that energetically this plant differs from the crushed eggshell in use now. For convenience sake the stuff used in ritual now is made from powdered eggshells which have been pressed into small cakes or blocks. These tiny cascarilla cakes are used before, during, and sometimes even after any ritual working, and could certainly be considered a necessary part of the traditions. Used in both Hoodoo and La Regla Lucumi (Santeria,) the ingredient is readily available in botanicas and from several sources online. There are also several recipes for making your own out of discarded eggshells, here’s an interesting one from witchipedia.com.
One of my favorite ways to use this is for protection. Cascarilla is used in ritual with devotees making a cross with the substance on their hands, knees, feet, and other parts of the body. Similarly you can also use this to make protective symbols on your doors, windows, and other places to protect your home. One tried and true spell is to cover a fresh coconut (with milk inside) in cascarilla and kick it around your home and out the front door to cleanse negativity. This is an old favorite. The substance can also be used as an offering for the Orisha Obatala, ,and is representative of the ashe of purity and calm.
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