Sarava! Afro-Brazilian Magick [Paperback]

Carol L. Dow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 1997

One-hundred-sixty-million people believe in a religion that is little known in the U.S. Now take an insider's look at these popular sects of the Brazilian mystery religions. Although Sarava! addresses some of their seemingly exotic aspects, it also delves into their spiritual roots and shows how the deeply felt magickal beliefs affect all aspects of people's lives. It also explains how these venerable neo-African practices are linked to the Great Western Mystery Tradition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

When she was ten years old, Morwyn resolved to devote her life to developing her psychic potential. She has since developed these abilities, and now teaches others to do the same. She is also a Wiccan priestess and ceremonial magician

Morwyn holds a Ph.D. in Luso-Brazilian Studies and received a Fulbright  Dissertation Research Fellowship to Brazil. Her book Magic from Brazil: Recipes, Spells, and Rituals (Llewellyn, September 2001) chronicles those experiences.  She has lived in Mexico, Brazil, England, Scotland, Wales, Portugal, Spain, and Italy, speaks five languages, and has studied esoteric   traditions in those lands. She is the author of The Complete Book of Psychic Arts: Divination Practices from Around the World which is a compilation of her vast experience.

Under the name Doña Carolina de Silva, she is co-authoring a series of 16 books in Spanish on Wicca and Magick within a fictional framework. La Esencia de la Aromaterapia and El Fuego Angelical are the first two titles in this series.  She has also written five books on Witchcraft to date.

In addition, Morwyn writes mystery novels under the pseudonym C.R. Blackmore and is President of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Sisters in Crime.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications; 1st edition (March 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567182356
• ISBN-13: 978-1567182354
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,512,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It is okay.........................., January 30, 2003

By 

El Brujo "Brujo Hechisero" (Lowell, Ma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sarava! Afro-Brazilian Magick (Paperback)

I have mix feelings over this book, so I can not give it any more then 3 stars. It is a good basic intro for those who are curious in the Brazilian Orisha "Orixa" sects of Umbanda, Candomble, Macumba, and Quimbanda. But it defiantly is not the best. Well only a quick rush through of each sect is explained. So reading it felt a bit rushed through.

There are sections on the Orixas, and the Orixas discussed are Iansa "Oya", The Ibeji "the Divine Twins", Iemanja "Yemaya", Nana, Ogum, Omolu, Olorun, Oxala, Oxossi, Ossae, Oxum, Oxumare, Xango, Exu, Pomba Gira, and other inor Orixas, Each section gives you a an explanation of the Orixa as well as a Legend that goes behind the Orixa.

There is also a section on Spirit Guides such as the Pretos Veljos, "The Ancient Black Ones", and the Caboclas, which is a bit interesting. The section of Botanicals is okay, but honestly one can get a better selection in the book "Sacred Leaves of Candomble". There is a small section of Sigils I like, I have to admit.

Know why can I not give this book 5 stars, well it is the section on "Spellwork" It starts of with a picture of Carol L Dow, on a street corner making a sacrifice to the Orixa Pomba Gira. She does not look like a traditional Umbanda or Candomle priestess, she looks like a Wiccan Witch. Then the spells again read like one that one finds in the Wiccan Books of Shadows that are sold for a dime a dozen. "How to Enlarge your Breasts!" " How to Find a lover!" That really made the book cheasy, and really disrespects these ancient religions. If it was not for that section alone. The book would be an okay intro to Umbanda, and Candomble. But honestly these religions have been written better else where.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Umbanda, December 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sarava! Afro-Brazilian Magick (Paperback)

This book is primarily an overview of Umbanda. As an initiate in Candomble, I find this book somewhat enjoyable except for some material with which I take issue. Ms. Dow certainly is in touch with the Brazilian spiritual scene. Understanding the depth and complexity of the traditions which this book quickly skirts over (Iansa axe!), however, I can only say it gives just a quicky peek through the door, and only really at Umbanda. The really deep tradition is Candomble, and this book doesn't even come close to it. The only real way to learn Umbanda or Macumba or whatever else from Brazil, not to mention Candomble, is to do it, and that means to get initiated in it, immerse oneself in it and live it. Therefore, it is not altogether a wise idea to do magic with the Orixas, especially Exu, without the proper initiations. This is serious. I know some people think otherwise, but I would caution the reader. If you respect the tradition, get initiated. Exu deserves total respect and love. You cannot do anything without his blessing. He is the keeper of the keys of all the doors. Then the author expresses squeemishness about the sacrifices. Why then write about them? If she feels sentimental about her little "furry beasties," that's fine. But I think it is neither respectful to talk of the sacrifices with such squeemishness, nor to apologise for them as she does to the non-initiated. If she eats animals, what makes it better if they are butchered in some stinking meat processing plant rather than killed in the sacred way? Anyway, I certainly wish Ms. Dow a lot of success in her attempts to describe the Umbanda. It's a huge undertaking. Hopefully she will find a better publisher than Llewellyn in the future.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strange religion that millions embrace, June 25, 2000

By 

Phil Dale (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sarava! Afro-Brazilian Magick (Paperback)

Well written by one who moved into the circles of this strange religion Dr. Carol Dow (the author) is said to have attended many ceremonies and talked with many concerning the faith that 160 million + embrace while living and studing in Brazil. Her book explains many of the rituals and beliefs of the religion, makes references to likenesses of Roman Catholic saints to persons in the faith. photos and illustrations are given to bring the reader into a better understanding visually . Methods of healing, appeasement of the entities,the persona of the entities and many other aspects are well covered . This is a great book for one practicing SARAV'A or for one studing various religions of the world. Obviously it is one that cannot be ignored with such a large following worldwide. A great reference book for ones shelf.