Exu (Eshu) Sete Cruzes Candle
The chief of the people of the Cross of Souls, for difficult decisions and souls without prayer
Exu Sete Cruzes Candle
7-day candle · stays lit for 7 days7 dias
The Exu Sete Cruzes candle is for those who are standing before a cross, in the oldest sense of the word: two paths that cross and no sign of which to follow. A change of city, the end of a partnership, a yes or a no that will change your life. Sete Cruzes is a guardian of the povo de rua linked to the cruzeiro, the large cross of the cemetery and of the terreiro where the living light a candle for the dead.
The name is old: the tablet of Exus that Reginaldo Prandi analyzed already included Exu das Sete Cruzes among those who work under the line chiefs. In a book of Quimbanda, he appears as the chief of the povo do cruzeiro das almas, within the kingdom of the cruzeiros. In a house in Curitiba, his ponto cantado (sacred song) sings seven crosses, seven graves, seven cruzeiros, this povo da calunga that comes to work for the good of each one.
At the cruzeiro, the souls receive the prayer of those who pass by, and many people light a candle there for the dead whom no one remembers. Therefore, this candle also serves to give light to the forgotten souls, without calling any of them. At home, it does not decide for you: it asks that the right path appears and that the crossing be guarded.
What is it for
What is the Exu Sete Cruzes Candle for
Red on top and black on the bottom, the Exu Sete Cruzes candle is of the guardian that part of the Quimbanda puts in front of the povo do cruzeiro das almas. It is lit to ask for clarity in a difficult decision, guards crossings, and gives light to the forgotten souls.
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Clarity in a difficult decision
Accept or refuse, stay or leave, sign or wait. The candle asks that the guardian of the Cross of Souls (Cruzeiro das Almas) show the right path, and you decide with a cooler head.
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Guard in change and crossing
Change of house, city, job, long trip. The candle asks for protection to cross from one place to another without taking along what is not good.
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Light for the forgotten souls
Nameless ancestors, those who died alone, those who never received a prayer. Like at the Cross of Souls (Cruzeiro das Almas), the candle asks for light for these souls, without calling any of them near.
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Undo demands that crossed
When one problem pulls another and everything seems tied in a single knot. The candle asks that the guardian separate the threads and undo what was crossed against you.
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Protection for those who walk at night
Those who return late from work, those who take the road at dawn, those who work the night shift. The candle asks for a guardian on the path between the street and the front door.
Who rules this candle
Orixás and spirits of the Vela de Exu Sete Cruzes
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Exu Sete Cruzes
Chief of the people of the Cross of Souls (Cruzeiro das Almas)
The label is his. The name is on the old Umbandist board and, in part of Quimbanda, he leads the people of the Cross of Souls (Cruzeiro das Almas). The red and black candle follows the color that a Gaúcho house gives to the people of the Cross of Souls.
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Exu
Orixá of the passages and the crossroads
Every cross is a crossroads, and the crossroads belong to the orixá (orisha) Exu, owner of the crossroads and of Monday. Greeting Exu before calling the guardian is the custom of almost every house.
Know Exu
Also settled for
- Exu King of the Seven Crosses
- People of the Cross of Souls (Cruzeiro das Almas)
- Pombagira of the Cross
- Linha das Almas
Prayer to light
Prayer of the Exu Sete Cruzes candle for the right path
“Lord Exu Sete Cruzes, guardian of the cross where the paths meet, I ask permission from Exu and the holy souls and light this flame for you. I am standing before a cross and do not know which way to go. Clear my head, take away my haste and fear, and show me the path that is mine. What crossed in my life to hold me back, undo and return to the earth. Guard my crossing, on the road and inside the house. And take a little of this light for the souls that no one remembers to pray for, so that they may rest. I return to give thanks. Laroyê, Exu Sete Cruzes! Hail the souls!”Light the candle and pray
Step by step
How to consecrate the Exu Sete Cruzes Candle
- 1
Saúde, Exu, and the souls
Say Laroyê and hail the souls before lighting. Sete Cruzes works at the crossroads, which is a place of Exu and the souls at the same time, and both licenses count.
- 2
Set it in a place of passage
Near the gate, the door, or in the service area, on the floor or on a low base. Far from the bedroom and the altar of the orixás, who do not receive a candle from the left.
- 3
Write the two paths
On a piece of paper, write the decision and the two exits you see. Leave the paper next to the saucer, without putting it under the candle, so it does not catch fire.
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Light it and serve the water and the marafo
Light it with a match, place the glass of water for the souls and the marafo for the guardian, and say the prayer. Then stay a while in silence thinking about the choice.
- 5
Close and decide calmly
Do not blow. At the end, the water and the marafo go to the earth, the wax goes wrapped for the trash, and the paper can be torn. Decide when your head is serene.
Precautions before lighting
- A 7-day candle with paper nearby requires attention: the paper stays to the side, never underneath or touching, and the candle stays away from curtains, children, and pets.
- The candle does not make a decision for you nor does it replace conversation, counting, and the advice of someone who understands the subject. It accompanies your choice.
- Ritual work at the cemetery crossroads is done with the terreiro and with permission from the house. At home, what is appropriate is the candle, the water, and the prayer for the souls.
- If doubt is taking away your sleep and health, also seek medical or psychological help. The candle accompanies and does not replace the doctor.
Ceromancy
What the flame of the Exu Sete Cruzes candle shows
Traditional terreiro reading. Before interpreting, check if there is no wind, crooked wick, or poor quality candle.
- Good sign
Firm and straight flame until the end
Many houses read this as a clear path and a prayer request accepted by the guardian. It is a sign that the decision can be taken without haste and without fear.
- Attention
Flame dancing to the sides
Check if there is wind. Without a draft, the popular reading is of a decision still in dispute: wait a few days before acting and pray again.
- Observe
Flame leaning to only one side
Some houses read this as an inclination toward one of the paths. It is not an order or a ready answer: use it as one more element in your reflection.
- Attention
Dark smoke and stained glass
It may indicate a crossed demanda being burned. Wash the glass, take a ritual bath of guiné and, if it repeats in several candles, seek a terreiro.
- Good sign
Wax that melts evenly
Clean and regular burning is usually read as a guarded crossing and souls receiving the light that you offered at the cruzeiro.
Ritual bath and smoke cleansing (defumação)
Herbs that pair with the Exu Sete Cruzes Candle
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guiné / Tipi
Petiveria alliacea
Leaf of cutting and of guarding. The ritual bath of guiné before lighting cleanses what was crossed and makes the head lighter to decide.
See the herb -
Abre-Caminho / Lacre
Justicia gendarussa
Herb for those who need a way out. A branch next to the plate during the seven days accompanies the prayer request for clarity before the cross.
See the herb -
Cipó-Cruz
Tynanthus fasciculatus
The name already says it: plant of the cross and of the crossing. Some houses use it in the ritual bath of those who will go through a big change.
See the herb
Virtual Candle
Light the Exu Sete Cruzes 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 Sete Cruzes Candle
Who is Exu Sete Cruzes in Umbanda?
He is a guardian of the povo de rua linked to the cruzeiro, the large cross of the cemetery and of the terreiro. The name already appears in the old Umbandista board, and part of Quimbanda places him as the chief of the povo of the cruzeiro das almas. There is a ponto (sacred song) in a house in Curitiba.
Is Exu Sete Cruzes the same as Exu do Cruzeiro?
They are not the same candle nor the same name. Both work at the cross, but Sete Cruzes is treated as the chief of the povo of the cruzeiro das almas, linked to the passage of the dead. In each house, the one who defines the hierarchy is the leader.
What is the color of the Exu Sete Cruzes candle?
Red and black, as a researched Gaúcho house calls the povo do cruzeiro. Other houses use black and white for the Exus of the cruzeiros, linking them to the souls. Both readings exist, and the one from your house is what matters.
What is the best day to light the candle of Exu Sete Cruzes?
Monday, which is the day of Exu and, for Catholics, the day of the souls, at dusk. If the decision has a deadline, light it a few days before, so that the candle accompanies the reflection until the eve.
Can I light the candle of Sete Cruzes for the family souls?
You can, along with a glass of water for the souls. Say the names and ask for light and rest, without asking for them to return. For recent mourning and family souls, the candle of Exu das Almas is even more indicated.
Can I light the candle of Exu Sete Cruzes inside the house?
The custom is to consecrate near the door, the gate, or in the service area, in a passageway. Never in the bedroom or on the altar of the orixás. In an apartment, a corner near the door works, with a firm base.
Can I blow out the candle of Exu Sete Cruzes and light it again?
You can, but it is not the best. The candle of decision accompanies the reflection without pause. If you need to leave, cover the flame with a saucer, without blowing, and relight it upon your return with the same greeting. Blowing is seen by many houses as undoing the prayer request with your own breath.
