Obeah: A Sorcerous Ossuary

by Nicholaj de Mattos Frisvold

Of all the Living Traditions, Obeah has remained the most elusive. Whilst Vodou and Santeria have had both academic and occult treatment in tomes widely available to the seeker, Obeah has stayed uncompromisingly rooted as a sorcerous tradition veiled in obscurity. In OBEAH: A SORCEROUS OSSUARY, Nicholaj de Mattos Frisvold teases open this Caribbean mystery and reveals a crooked path into the hidden world of Papa Bones and Sasabonsam with a short monograph concerning the history of this incoherent cult and the ways in which power is bestowed upon and wielded by the Obeahman. The text includes the Kabalistic Banquette of Lemegeton, the Hypostasis of Abysina Clarissa and the Green Beasts, a Kabalistic Mass for Anima Sola Mayanet, a Call to Papa Bones, a Call to Spirit Guides, a Call to Anima Sola Abysina Clarissa, the Missale Ezekiel Sasabonson or the Conjuration of the Shadow-Self, and the Ritual Reptilica de Anansi, and offers insights into the Obeahman's special relationship with the spirits of wood, water, and bone.

Genres: Occult, Nonfiction

76 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2013

Reviews

[Damien · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a 50/50 chance that the information in this book was made up. However, it was fascinating and entertaining. A Norwegian man meets a Sango Baptist from Trinidad in an Oslo bar, and claims to have been initiated (given the obayifo), and taught the secrets of Obeah. It there is any truth to this, then most of that truth has been hidden in parallel legends and occult philosophies. One would have to be familiar with them and read between the lines. But all the clues are in the book. Personally, I was highly disappointed that the author didn't understand the importance, of capitalization when writing Liber AL vel Legis (he wrote Al, which diminishes it's true nature significantly).

[Tree Gods]

Sigh….I’m afraid this man has been lied to about what a actual abayifo is all about. You simply cannot pass something that requires a certain bloodline. Their is nothing to pass except deception. 😂 You probably have a 1 in million chance of coming across one of us aim reality! Even the word obeah shows a watered down understanding. Those who use it in the Caribbeans, only do so cuz they don’t know any better lol Unfortunately for him I think his Caribbean friend and associates have pull his leg, speaking on a magic they actually fear and for good reason! It’s hilarious how his supposed teacher gave him the impression that Kabbalah or any form of modern western chaos magic or concepts has anything to do with obayi aka obeah at all. anansi, papa bones, or any other ATR aka African tradition religion concept has nothing to do with a obayifo aswell. Infact, theirs no way a priest would be an obayifo because we don’t like priest or priestly traditions. Your Shango guy tricked you! Most importantly the Ashanti people and their okomfo priest based culture is the complete opposite of of the culture the obayifo comes from. The only thing we share with Ashanti is a geographic spot on the map. We’re not Ashanti, and they’re not us! Many of these talking points come from their culture not the obayifos way! It’s like two opposing teams being confused for being the same people. 🤷🏾‍♂️ Literally there is war and hate between us and for good reason. “Obayi” is not taught. U cannot teach a obayifo just like you can’t teach a bird to fly and navigate. Their born with the innate predisposition. We may be a endangered people with a endangered form of magic, but this book should be ashamed for the complete misrepresentation! It was pretty much a great fiction story mixing many different cultural concepts that doesn’t have anything to do with obayifo culture. Our name actually means “children to come people” you will know the obayifo way as a child, because you must be born a Abayifo. Hence why we’re very rare and have a very small inner circle.

[Johnny Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all of Frisvold's books and essays that I have read, this short piece on Obeah comes from a place of true initiatic experience. This kind of knowledge is, I believe, crucial in giving a thorough, truthful and well-researched account of a shamanic and sorcerous practice such as Obeah.

His story of how an Obeahman made his presence known to him while he was still living in his home country of Norway is pretty amazing and helped to guide him into his intensive explorations of many African and African diasporic spiritual traditions, many of which he is an initiate of.

I read this book while traveling in northwestern Jamaica, one of the power centers for Obeah in the Caribbean, and the effect was perhaps even more profound because I was immersed in the landscape and the culture of the people. I would recommend this book as highly as any of his other writings as a great introduction to the mysteries of one of the most misunderstood and maligned of the Afro-Caribbean spiritual paths.

[Jayden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really trust south American mysticism from a white man, but still solid foundations of an orak tradition, at least I hope 😅

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful, WONDERFUL resource for anyone who is interested in Obeah. It tends to be one of the African Diasporic Traditions that defies definition, but Mattos Frisvold gives an excellent academic account of its practices and cosmology. The only thing that could make it better would be suggestions as to how to get involved with Obeah yourself; however, it's hard to suggest ways to find a community in this tradition. Obeahmen and women tend to be recluses, and to study under an Obeahman is even rarer, especially for people living in the United States. Even on this front though, Mattos Frisvold is expressly clear about this tradition and how it initiates people--Obi can only be given directly and physically from teacher to student. Any attempt at self-initiation is likely to be misguided and potentially dangerous. Overall, though, this is a fantastic anthropological account of what this tradition entails and how it functions.