Exu (Eshu) Gato Preto candle
Guardian of the night against injustice and persecution, to see the intention of the other
Exu Gato Preto candle
7-day candle · stays lit for 7 days7 dias
The Exu Gato Preto candle is usually sought by those being treated with injustice: a boss who persecutes, an unequal lawsuit, people with more power overreaching. Gato Preto is an Exu guardian of the left line, and not the orixá (orisha) Exu. Researchers found him working in houses of Umbanda and Quimbanda in Ribeirão Preto (SP), Bocaiuva (MG), and Pato Branco (PR), always attending to flesh and blood people.
In Ribeirão Preto, his function was to provide support to those suffering persecution and abuse of power. In Bocaiuva, he was among the five main Exus of the house, called for the heaviest tasks, and his food was served along with that of the Pombagira Dama da Noite. In Paraná, the house linked him to the revelation of adversaries' intentions. No serious source says which orixá or realm he belongs to, and the legend circulating on the internet has no documentation.
The name recalls the animal that sees in the dark and also the memory of the persecution of terreiros, when the police called everything coming from them sorcery. At home, the candle asks for respect and a clean prayer request. It is not for attacking those who harmed you: it serves for you to stay protected and see better.
What is it for
What is the Exu Gato Preto Candle for
All black, the Exu Gato Preto candle is of the guardian that research found protecting people against injustice, persecution, and abuse of power. It is lit to request defense, clarity regarding the other person's intention, and protection of the house at night.
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When injustice is against you
Accusation without proof, unequal treatment, decision made by those with more power. The candle requests that the guardian stay by your side while you seek the right means.
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See the intention of those who are against
For those who suspect a game behind the words. The candle does not point out a culprit for you, but it usually clarifies what was hidden and provides calm so you do not act on impulse.
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Persecution at work
A boss who won't leave you alone, a colleague who sets up a situation, an environment that turned into a dispute. The prayer request is for protection to work in peace and steadiness to not fall into provocation.
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Protection of the house during the night
Agitated sleep, noise that scares, the feeling of a watched house. Lit near the door, the candle firms the guardian of the night as a watchman for those sleeping inside.
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Cutting what was sent
In the houses studied, he is called for the heavy tasks. The candle requests that what was sent against you returns to the earth, without wishing harm to anyone.
Who rules this candle
Orixás and spirits of the Exu Gato Preto candle
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Exu Gato Preto
Guardian of the night and of justice
The label is his. Research records him defending those who suffer persecution and abuse of power, and revealing the intentions of adversaries. The black candle recalls his name and the night, the hour in which he works.
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Exu
Orixá of passages and communication
Gato Preto works in the povo de rua, which follows the path opened by the orixá Exu, owner of the crossroads and of Monday. Greeting Exu first is the custom before calling any guardian.
Know Exu
Also settled for
- Street people (povo de rua)
- Pombagira Dama da Noite
- Exu Quimbandeiro
Prayer to light
Prayer of the Exu Gato Preto candle against injustice
“Lord Exu Gato Preto, who sees where the light does not reach, I ask permission from Exu and light this candle for you. You know what they are doing to me and you know who has more strength than I in this story. Stay by my side. Show what is hidden behind the words of those who persecute me, and give me the calm to respond the right way, without falling into a trap. What was sent against me, return it to the earth. I do not ask that anyone suffers, I ask that justice moves and that my house sleeps in peace. I fulfill what I promise and return to give thanks. Laroyê, Exu Gato Preto!”Light the candle and pray
Step by step
How to consecrate the Exu Gato Preto Candle
- 1
Ask permission from Exu
Before calling the guardian, greet Exu with a Laroyê. In the studied houses, the greeting comes with the name of the Exu followed by é Mojubá, and you can repeat it like this.
- 2
Set it at night, near the entrance
The place is the gate, the door, or the service area, on a low and firm base. Far from the bedroom and the altar of the orixás, which is not a place for a left-side firmeza.
- 3
Say the injustice by name
Hold the candle and tell, in simple words, what is happening and what you need to be seen. A clear prayer request helps; a request for punishment should not be made.
- 4
Light and pray without haste
Light with a match, put the marafo beside it and say the prayer. If your house uses the red one together, light both side by side, without one touching the other.
- 5
Finish with respect
Do not blow. When finished, the marafo goes to the ground and the leftover wax is wrapped for the trash, away from the door. Continue taking care of the case through the means of life.
Precautions before lighting
- A lit candle at night requires extra attention: firm base, nothing flammable nearby, away from children and animals, and never burning while everyone sleeps without supervision.
- Do not light it to punish those who harmed you. In studied houses, the mediums refuse ritual work for evil, because it returns to the one who requested it.
- True injustice is also faced with a lawyer, a union, or the competent agency. The candle accompanies your struggle and does not replace these paths.
- If the persecution is taking away your sleep and health, also seek medical or psychological help. The candle accompanies and does not replace the doctor.
- The line, the orixá, and the consecrated foundation (assentamento) of Exu Gato Preto are the subject of the leader of the house where he works, and not of an internet list.
Ceromancy
What the flame of the Exu Gato Preto Candle shows
Traditional terreiro reading. Before interpreting, check if there is no wind, crooked wick, or poor quality candle.
- Good sign
High, firm, and clear flame
Many houses read this as an accepted prayer request and a guardian standing watch. It is the expected burning of a protection candle lit without wind.
- Attention
Flame that flickers without wind
It usually accompanies someone who lit it very agitated or a matter still in dispute. Pray again with calm and avoid deciding anything on impulse.
- Observe
Sparks and pops during the burning
In popular reading, it is ritual work in progress. Before anything else, check if the wick is clean and if there is nothing flammable nearby.
- Attention
Black smoke rising straight up
It can indicate a large weight being burned. If the dark smoke repeats in several candles, it is worth seeking a terreiro for guidance.
- Good sign
Candle that ends without leaving any residue
Wax consumed entirely is read by many houses as completed ritual work. It is time to give thanks and continue taking care of the case with calm.
Ritual bath and smoke cleansing (defumação)
Herbs that combine with the Exu Gato Preto Candle
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Rue
Ruta graveolens
A ritual bath of rue from the neck down before lighting helps release the weight of someone who is being pursued and prepares the body for the firmeza.
See the herb -
dumb cane / Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia seguine
Guard plant for the entrance. A pot near the door during the days of the candle reinforces the prayer request for protection against those who arrive with bad intentions.
See the herb -
Malagueta pepper
Capsicum frutescens
Exu's pepper, hot and of movement. Some houses leave some peppers on a saucer next to the candle; never use in a ritual bath or on the skin.
See the herb
Virtual Candle
Light the Exu Gato Preto 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 Gato Preto Candle
What is the Exu Gato Preto candle for?
It serves to ask for protection against injustice, persecution, and abuse of power, and to see the intention of those who are against you. It is the function that research recorded in the houses where he works. The candle accompanies your struggle and does not decide anything alone.
Which orixá or realm does Exu Gato Preto belong to?
No serious source says. The classic table that distributes the Exus by orixás does not bring his name, and no research places him in a realm of Quimbanda. Who answers this is the leader of the house where he works.
What is the color of the Exu Gato Preto candle?
Black, the color of the name and of the night. In the houses studied, the candles of the Exus in general are black and red, and many people light both together. Follow the custom of your terreiro, which is worth more than any table.
Which Pombagira does Exu Gato Preto work with?
The only documented pair is with the Pombagira Dama da Noite, in a house in Bocaiuva (MG), where the food of the two was served together. It is not a rule: in Ribeirão Preto he served alongside Exu Quimbandeiro.
Can I light the Exu Gato Preto candle inside the house?
The custom is to set it near the entrance, at the gate, on the door, or in the service area, and not in the bedroom or on the altar of the orixás. In an apartment, a corner near the door works, always with a firm base and someone awake nearby.
What to do with the marafo and the leftover candle?
The marafo goes to the earth, in a garden bed or at the foot of a tree, and the cup is washed. The leftover wax is wrapped in paper for the common trash, outside the house. None of this is reused in another firmeza.
Is Exu Gato Preto evil or does he do evil?
No, in the houses studied. In Ribeirão Preto, his function is to protect those who suffer injustice and persecution, and in Bocaiuva the mediums refuse ritual work for evil. The bad reputation comes from prejudice against Afro-Brazilian religions.
