Exu (Eshu) das Almas candle
The guardians of the crossroads and the passage, for the souls of the family and the guarding of mourning
Exu das Almas candle
7-day candle · stays lit for 7 days7 dias
The Exu das Almas candle is for a moment that almost every family goes through: someone left and the house felt heavy, or the memory of a relative comes with distress instead of longing. Exu das Almas is not just one Exu. It is the surname that several guardians receive when they work in the field of the souls, such as Tranca Ruas das Almas and João Caveira das Almas, and in a house in Curitiba even Seu Mangueira is chanted with this title.
Their address is the cruzeiro, the cross of the cemetery and of the terreiro, and the passage between the world of the living and the world of the dead. In a survey in Vitória (ES), umbandistas said that Monday is the day of Exu and, for Catholics, the day of the souls: the two devotions share the same date. In some houses, this field answers to Obaluaê, the lord of the earth; in others, its governing orixá (orisha) is told differently.
At home, this candle does not call spirits nor does it make contact with anyone who has left. It asks that the guardians take care of the passage, that those who died move on in peace and that your house remains protected while the mourning settles. For this reason, it goes well with a glass of water, a simple prayer and the name of the one you want to see sent forward.
What is it for
What is the Exu das Almas Candle for
White on top and black on the bottom, the Exu das Almas candle is for the guardians who work at the cruzeiro (the cross) and in the passage between the living and the dead. It is lit to guide the souls of the family, guard the house in mourning, and ward off aimless spirits.
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Request for the souls of the family
Father, grandmother, friend who has left. The candle asks the guardians of the passage to guide those who died with charity, so they may move on in peace and leave only good memories.
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Guard the house during mourning
In the days after a loss, the house usually feels heavy. Lit near the door, the candle sets the Exus das Almas as sentinels while the family recovers.
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Ward off aimless spirits
Noise with no cause, a sense of presence, a strange smell in a corner of the house. The request is for the guardian to collect those who are lost and take them where they should be.
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Firmeza on All Souls' Day
On November 2, many people go to the cemetery. Those who cannot go light the candle at home, greet the souls, and ask the guardians of the cruzeiro for the memory of their loved ones.
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Close an old spiritual pending matter
A promise that a relative left unfulfilled, a matter that remained in the air after a death. The candle asks that this pending matter be looked at and guided with respect.
Who rules this candle
Orixás and spirits of the Exu das Almas candle
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Exu das Almas
Guardians of the cruzeiro (the cross) and the passage
The label is theirs. Das Almas is a spiritual legion (falange) surname: it marks the Exus who work in the cemetery and at the crossroads, taking care of those who cross. The white of the candle is of the souls and the black is of the guard of Exu.
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Obaluaê (Omulu)
Lord of the earth and the passage
In several houses, the field of the souls and the small calunga responds to Obaluaê, owner of the earth that receives the body. It is not a rule for all houses, and the orixá is not an Exu.
Know Obaluaê (Omulu)
Also settled for
- Tranca Ruas das Almas
- João Caveira das Almas
- Exu Mangueira
- Pombagira das Almas
- Linha das Almas
Prayer to light
Prayer of the Exu das Almas candle for those who departed
“Lords Exus das Almas, guardians of the cruzeiro (the cross), I ask permission from Exu and the holy souls to light this light. I do not call anyone back. I ask that you take care of the passage of my deceased, that each one finds their path and rests. If someone was lost near me or this house, collect them with charity and take them where they must be. Guard my door while the sadness passes, and leave only the longing inside, without weight or affliction. May the water in this glass receive what remained heavy. I thank you for your guard, today and on the day when it will be my turn to cross. Laroyê, Exus das Almas! Hail the souls!”Light the candle and pray
Step by step
How to consecrate the Exu das Almas Candle
- 1
Saúde, Exu, and the souls
Say Laroyê to Exu and hail the souls before lighting. It is the double license that the line asks for: to the guardians who care for the passage and to the souls that pass through it.
- 2
Firm in a low and calm place
A corner near the door or in the service area, on the floor or on a low base. Far from the altar of the orixás and the bedroom, because this is a candle of passage and of guarding.
- 3
Put the water and the name next to it
The glass of water stays next to the saucer all week. If you want to ask for someone, leave the name written on a paper or a photo next to it, without pinning it under the candle.
- 4
Light it and pray for those who left
Light with a match and say the prayer calmly. Speak with affection of the person you want to see guided onward, without pressure and without asking for anyone to return or give a sign.
- 5
Finish without blowing
Let it burn until the end. The water goes to the soil of a garden or to the drain with running water. The wax goes wrapped for the trash, and the paper with the name can be burned carefully.
Precautions before lighting
- A 7-day candle lit during mourning asks for double care: the house is usually full and tired. Firm base, no cloth nearby, away from children and pets.
- This candle is not for calling the spirit of a relative nor for asking for a sign. Communication with those who left is a matter of a prepared house, with a leader.
- Ritual work in the cemetery and at the crossroads is done with the terreiro, within the foundation of the house. At home, what is appropriate is the candle, the water, and the prayer.
- Mourning that does not pass, deep sadness, and lack of sleep ask for medical or psychological help. The candle accompanies and never replaces the doctor.
Ceromancy
What the flame of the Vela de Exu das Almas shows
Traditional terreiro reading. Before interpreting, check if there is no wind, crooked wick, or poor quality candle.
- Good sign
High, calm, and golden flame
Many houses read it as a peaceful passage and a prayer request accepted by the guardians of the Cruzeiro das Almas (Cross of Souls). It is the burn expected from a candle for the souls.
- Observe
Many tears of wax running down
In popular reading, it speaks of repressed feelings, yours or of the house. It is not a bad sign: pray again, cry if you need to, and let the candle continue.
- Good sign
Flame that leans toward the door
Once the draft is ruled out, some houses read it as something being carried out of the house. Keep the candle in place and do not touch it.
- Attention
Water in the glass is cloudy or with bubbles
Usually read as a load being collected. Change the water with respect, greet the souls again and, if it repeats a lot, seek a terreiro.
- Attention
Candle that goes out shortly after being lit
First check the wick and wind. Once that is resolved, redo the permission to Exu and to the souls and light it again; if it persists, speak with a zelador.
Ritual bath and smoke cleansing (defumação)
Herbs that go with the Exu das Almas Candle
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Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis
Herb of joy and light. A ritual bath of alecrim or a branch next to the saucer helps exchange the distress of mourning for a lighter longing.
See the herb -
guiné / Tipi
Petiveria alliacea
Strong protection leaf. A branch of guiné behind the door during the seven days reinforces the house's watch while the candle burns.
See the herb -
Wormwood (losna) / Absinthe
Artemisia absinthium
Herb linked to Omulu and the souls. Many houses use losna in the house smoke cleansing after a wake or a visit to the cemetery.
See the herb
Virtual Candle
Light the Exu das Almas candle now
Choose the type, write your request, and pay by PIX. The flame stays on the altar and you follow along through the link.
Place on the altarFrequently asked questions
Questions about the Exu das Almas candle
Who is Exu das Almas in Umbanda?
It is not just one spirit. Das Almas is a surname of a falange and marks the Exus who work in the cemetery, at the crossroads, and in the passage between the living and the dead, such as Tranca Ruas das Almas and João Caveira das Almas. Which of them works with you, your house can tell.
What is the difference between the Exu das Almas candle and the Exu Caveira candle?
The Exu Caveira one goes to a single falange, the one of the cemetery, and is lit for heavy cutting and disobsession. The Exu das Almas one speaks with the guardians of the cruzeiro in general and is the candle of mourning, of the family souls, and of the peaceful passage.
What is the best day to light the Exu das Almas candle?
Monday, which is the day of Exu and, for Catholics, the day of the souls. On All Souls' Day, many people also light it, at home or going to the cemetery with the terreiro. Other than that, the candle can accompany the days after a loss.
Can I light the Exu das Almas candle for a relative who died?
You can, and it is one of the most common uses. Say his name, ask that he goes in peace and that the guardians watch over the passage. Do not ask for him to return or to give a sign: the candle is to send him forward, not to call him.
Can I light the candle of Exu das Almas inside the house?
You can, near the door or in the service area, in a low and safe place, away from the bedroom and the altar of the orixás. It is a candle of protection and passage, and therefore it stays where one enters and leaves.
What to do with the water and the leftover wax?
The water goes to the soil of a garden bed or into a drain with running water, and the cup is washed. The wax goes wrapped in the trash, outside the house. If you used paper with a name, burn it carefully in a clay container.
Is Exu das Almas a demon because he works with the dead?
No. Working with the passage does not make anyone a spirit of evil. For Umbanda, the cemetery is a sacred place, and the guardian who works there takes care of those who cross over. The connection of Exu with the devil is a product of prejudice, and there is a recorded history.
