The Scratch: Blood, Spirits & Palo Mayombe - Tata Nico

Palo Mayombe gets judged loudly and studied quietly, so we invite you into a calmer, clearer conversation with Tata Nico, a Palomayombe priest calling in from Central Florida. We start with his roots: a Southern Baptist baptism, Pentecostal upbringing, Geechee bloodline, and a long search through different religions before he found a spiritual path that actually felt like home. Along the way, he’s honest about what happens when you enter spirituality through the wrong people, and why finding the right guidance can be the difference between confusion and purpose.

We also talk about the scratch ceremony in a respectful way, focusing on what it symbolizes without exposing what should stay private. Tata Nico connects initiation to mental preparation and mental health, especially for men, because Palo Mayombe can make you confront your own shadow and unhealed family trauma fast. If you’re curious about spiritual warfare, he brings it back to basics: protection starts with investigation and consultation, not panic, not guesswork, and definitely not copying “work” you saw online.

From there we break down key terms and practices people ask about all the time: what it means to be a Tata or Yaya, what a prenda or ganga represents, how divination can work through chamalongos and other methods, and why beads and taboos depend on tradition and discipline. We get into symbolism too, like fire as a cleansing element and the crossroads as open roads and opportunity, plus a helpful overview of impungus including Lucero, Salabanda, Siete Rayo, and more. We close with ethics, justice, patience, and why real spiritual development looks like responsibility, not revenge.

If this helped you see Palo Mayombe with more depth and less fear, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people find the conversation.

Transcript

Welcome, Topic, And Housekeeping

SPEAKER_00 0:11

Peace world, peace world, how you doing? It's your brother Mikey Fever back up in this building. We got a special show for you tonight about Palomoyomi. Before we go any further, don't forget to comment, like, share, and subscribe. We got super chats. We have merchandise on the website. Do come out, do show love. We are doing this for you. Without you, none of this would have been possible, my people. So again, we appreciate you all for giving us this love for these three years that we're coming upon on this journey. So peace and love to our followers, our viewers, our listeners, subscribers. Long, you know. Damn tired. Let's let's keep it moving. Tonight's show is called The Scratch Blood Spirit and Palomayombe with Tata Tata Nico. Peace, Tata Niko. Welcome to our platform, NYP.

SPEAKER_02 1:02

Blessings, blessings.

Tata Niko’s Roots And Bloodline

SPEAKER_00 1:06

Peace, peace, man. That was that was so quick, man. How you guys say Salam Aleyk and Walaikum Salah, right? All right, Tata, man. Brother Tata, where are you from, brother? Where are you hailing from, brother? Give us an introduction. Where you from?

SPEAKER_02 1:18

So I'm Tata Niko. Um I'm in Florida right now, uh, Central Florida, uh, Palm Bay, Florida, actually. Um yeah, I'm from Florida. I'm actually from more north of Florida, but I moved here years ago.

SPEAKER_00 1:33

Oh, I heard. So what's your background like nationality?

SPEAKER_02 1:37

Um, so I know I'm Geechee. I got Geechee in my bloodline. You get what I mean? For what I know, my people here are Florida, you know, and Carolinas and Georgia and stuff like that. Um, we have a background of, you know, African, more subsidiary and um Western African of Congo and Nigerian. My grandfather was a big Nigerian man and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 2:01

So Nigeria. So that's peace. So Nigeria's no Nigeria, born of um Florida. Um, Geechee people, do you are you familiar with your Geechee culture? Have you tapped into that?

SPEAKER_02 2:17

You know, my people are from there, you know, from the Carolinas. They was, you know, in them times, so they speak it. You know, I'm saying I understand it, I understand where they come from and stuff like that. Yes, I do, but I'm the history of it, uh, from what my people have taught me.

From Church Upbringing To Palo

SPEAKER_00 2:32

All right, man. That's a pleasure, Brandon to have you on here. So, like, let's get into the first question, man. I don't know how how how you were raised. Were you raised in a typical, like, you know, Christian household, religious?

SPEAKER_02 2:45

So I was raised, um, I was baptized Southern Baptist. Um, and then I was also raised on the other side of Pentecostal as well. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:56

Oh, that's peace, alright. So what drew you, what drew you towards um Palomo Yumbe?

SPEAKER_02 3:01

So when I was when I was young, I already knew that this, you know, the Christian way wasn't, you know, I studied, you know what I'm saying? I had a, you know, I studied a lot of different religions and, you know, stuff like that, and didn't feel no, you know, no comfort, no home. You get what I'm saying? Um, so, you know, it's a long story, but I definitely, you know, I got into the spirituality trusting someone. I took up through that, you get what I'm saying? But then I got into the right hands and learned that, you know, um it's a path for me. And they let me know I have to take that path, and that was my purpose and my mission. So I pursued it and seeked it, you get what I mean, um, and made the sacrifices to make sure I became, you know, Nkisa Malongo. I thata, you get what I'm saying, the priest in the Pala Mayumbi. You get what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 3:52

My man, my man, you went, you went Nkisi. Can you pronounce that again?

SPEAKER_02 3:57

So Akisa Malongo is basically Pala Mayumbi. You get what I'm saying? We practice, you get out saying, um, you know, just the nature of Earth, the ancestral force. You get what I mean? And Kisi is the spirit, Malongo is, you know what I'm saying, us and all.

SPEAKER_00 4:14

All right, that's peace right there. So um, if you don't mind, what what made you, what pushed you towards um Paulo, like in a sense where you're going to do something in your life at that moment that made you take that step in towards Paloma Paloma Yumbe?

SPEAKER_02 4:27

So it was like it was a okay, so it was more or less like a disturbing start of how things happened. You get what I mean? Um, like I said, I I got brought into it by someone that I trusted. You get what I'm saying? I was like, I want to, I want to learn, you know, more of what it is. You get what I mean? And, you know, um it wasn't what it was. He tricked me, got into some stuff. But and throughout the process, I learned what it was. You get what I'm saying? So I started keeping going and learning and learning and learning. Uh, I met this guy, he was my spiritual advisor, um, known him for years. Um, he owned a botanica up the way, and he helped me clean me and he guided me. He gave me a misa. You know, I got to talking to different people within the spirituality, you know, in the first sense, you know, he they was practicing Santos. So, you know, um, when I was when I went there, um I had a Paleto and I had a Santero give me a reading and figure out what my path was. I had misas and stuff like that. And this is what they told me I needed to do. And I seeked out. And ever since, ever since I've been in Apollo, it just definitely changed me from a different lifestyle.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

Different lifestyle, right? So, how how how long have you been practicing Apollo? Four years. Four years, beautiful, beautiful. That's beautiful, four years. Did you have any um before going in there, before you encountered like the traditions and whatsoever, did you have any your own ideas before stepping in there that you was like, oh my god, this is different?

SPEAKER_02 5:55

Um, no. And the only reason why is because you know, I kind of went into it with the sense of letting the spirit guide instead of allowing the flesh to overtake a lot of times. Um, because we have that battle. So basically, like I had to overcome something, and that was really stepping into the spirit at the time. So that's just that's basically how I felt that I did it. You know what I mean?

The Scratch And Inner Readiness

SPEAKER_00 6:25

All right, that's peace. That's peace right there. All right, cool. Um, what did the scratch symbolize for you personally?

SPEAKER_02 6:32

Say it again.

SPEAKER_00 6:34

What did the scratch ceremony symbolize for you personally?

SPEAKER_02 6:40

Um what did it symbolize? So to me, it was definitely, you know, not getting so much into that.

SPEAKER_00 6:51

No, no, you don't have to.

SPEAKER_02 6:53

Yeah, you know, um, but it was it was sacred, very sacred. We're gonna leave, you know, it was very sacred.

SPEAKER_00 6:59

Like, you know, you not to get in detail, but like like was heart pumping with when you went into the ceremony, like, oh my god, is it's about to go down?

SPEAKER_02 7:06

Like, yeah, it was like everything, everything was aware, everything was, you know, everything was, you know, what it, you know, what it was meant to be. You know what I'm saying? Hair stands and you know, I mean, stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 7:19

Heightened centers and all that.

unknown 7:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:23

I got you, I got, I got you, man. Any mental preparations you had to do before you're getting there for yourself?

SPEAKER_02 7:31

Mental preparations. Um, so I'm big on mental health, especially for us as men. Um, I believe that mentally you're gonna know that if you got things suppressed with inside of you, if you know that, you know, it's worse things that can, you know, trigger things into life, you know what I'm saying? Um, Polo is one of those systems where it makes you look eye to eye, where a lot of people don't talk about and where it's probably not their responsibility, but looking eye to eye to yourself is you versus you and you got something there. You get what I'm saying? You're holding on and you're just going for the ride. You know what I mean? But at the same time, in the mindset, you have to keep it to the point because either, you know what I'm saying, either you're if you're not thinking mentally stable, if you're not mentally strong on that sense, a lot of times you'll trick your brain, or you're allowed to trick things to influence you instead of, you know, saying you letting the spirit kind of at least take off a little bit. You get what I mean? So basically it is a it is a mental um alignment. It is for sure.

SPEAKER_00 8:44

I'm glad you I'm glad that you mentioned the mental health is important because a lot of people tend to run into these spiritual practices without first taking care of their mental health. And you know, they they start saying spirits begin to neglect them. I'm like, but how was that person's mental state before joining, you know, getting initiated whatsoever?

SPEAKER_02 9:01

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's very important. I mean, to anyone, you get what I mean, and like I said, it is behind these things and your ancestral and your, you know what I'm saying, your your lineage, your, you know what I'm saying, where you come from, your bloodline of where you was made from, you know, it's a lot of trauma there. You know what I'm saying? Especially that's unhealed. That if people don't know how to break the the chain of that cycle of that, those curses that's bonding them, you know what I'm saying, binding them down, then at times these practices can make you, you know what I'm saying, so much of lose control at times if you don't crown yourself, align yourself, you get what I'm saying, make the sacrifices to do those things. You get what I mean? Um so the best thing to do is mentally prepare to if it don't make sense, then you're in the right place because it's like, all right, I don't know. So I'm just leaping out there with faith.

Protection Starts With Investigation

SPEAKER_00 10:07

Gotcha, I got you. Um, what is the spiritual protection in Palomayombe?

SPEAKER_02 10:12

The mortal.

SPEAKER_00 10:14

The muerto.

SPEAKER_02 10:16

You know what I'm saying? It is is what I mean, what do you mean by spiritual protection?

SPEAKER_00 10:23

Like spiritual protection, like somebody, uh, you know, say for instance, somebody feels like they're being attacked or persecuted by a group of people or an individual, or they be like, I don't feel safe out here in my life. I think something's something is haunting me whatsoever. What protection can you provide them with?

SPEAKER_02 10:40

I mean, in a sense, like, okay, boom, too. When you get investigate the situation, so you you consult with, you know, saying the mortals. You get what I'm saying? As the priest, you get what I'm saying, you bring them in to help, to consult, to figure out, to investigate what's going on with the person. Because every person case is different. Something might be different. You got Mike, they could get spiritual cleansings, spiritual hygiene is a must, like spiritual baths, rompimentals. Um, you know, after that, then you know saying you stay on top of things, you make the sacrifices of offerings that you can also give, you know what I'm saying, uh, certain elements. Um, you can carry things, you know what I'm saying? Like makoto's, we call them, um, protection, amulets, and stuff like that. Um, but the main thing is is getting to the source of it. Start with the consultation. That is the main thing before anything else. Because, you know, we can sit here and be like, oh, I need protection. I need protection, I need protection. But at the same time, at what level do you need it? You get what I mean? So investigating and getting to the source is where we want to get. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 11:46

I got you. I got you. And then is the work with the work is done with herbs and sticks, stuff like that, particular herb.

SPEAKER_02 11:53

The earth. Yeah, the earth, the earth, you know.

SPEAKER_00 11:56

And trust me, I'm I'm asking very like, you know, questions is very like on the on the surface. I'm not trying to go deep into like you.

SPEAKER_02 12:02

No, you're you're good. You're good. You're good. You would know. Trust me.

Titles, Prenda, Divination, And Taboos

SPEAKER_00 12:05

Yeah. What does it what what does what does a tata mean in Palo? A Tata or a Yaya? What do they mean in Palo?

SPEAKER_02 12:13

So a Tata or a Yaya. So a Tata is so a Tata would be a father. Um someone, so you could be a Tata de Inga. So, you know, uh a person that is this sacred vessel, this living force, you get um, you made it to that point of now you got the responsibilities of taking care of things, guiding, directing. You get God children, then you start becoming, you know what I'm saying, um evolving people, spiritually developing in them. Um uh being patient and knowing that at times that you know you have to guide people from your experience. You get what I mean? So as a Yaya or Tata, you know, you gotta look at it as you're a parent. You're a parent. You're you're you're so much of a, you know what I'm saying? So it's criteria to responsibilities to what you have to do as a Tata or Yaya. Before you have, before that title, you get what I'm saying? It's a big responsibility that I, you know, a lot of us take on and rock it out. Then there's some of us that, you know what I mean, just get the title and then just lose their mind in a sense. You get what I mean? But it's a big responsibility as being a parent. It's a family, you get what I mean? You're a Tata of God children, you know what I'm saying? You're teaching them, you're guiding them, you lead them to where it can spiritually develop you and help you on your on your journey, Apollo. You get what I'm saying? Whether it's the man is the Tata, the Yaya is the female. You get what I mean? So either one of them, until they elevate and have their own prenda and ganga and stuff like that, then they become a Tata or Yaya.

SPEAKER_00 13:55

What is a Prindha, brother?

SPEAKER_02 13:58

So a Prinda is so many names for it. So a Prenda and Ganga, you know, some people call it the living vessel. It is the center of the priest, the living and the death.

SPEAKER_00 14:19

Okay, okay. Connection of both worlds, basically.

unknown 14:23

Correct.

SPEAKER_00 14:24

Gotcha, I respect that. All right. How does divination work in Palomayombe?

SPEAKER_02 14:30

So a lot of times people in Paulo, you come up with you're making your own craft. So you and your mortals may come up that you may read just chomalongos, four of them, or you may read five of them. Sometimes people could read, you know, saying the smoke, the divinate in them situations. They can read off of water. It's so many different spiritual um divination systems that one can use. It's up to what's behind them and what they choose to use and what they feel more comfortable with. You know what I mean? Um, what aligns them. Some people could read 21 shells, some people will know, you know what I'm saying? It's just different things, 13 shelves. Some people just uh, you know what I'm saying? Just some readers just sit next to you. It's just a spiritual gift. They don't need anything. Just give them some tobacco and let them sit there. You get what I mean? Um there's so many different systems of it because people take on certain things and people's spiritual system systems and courts are different than others. You get what I mean? So it's it's broadly varies to whatever people want to use, but the main source of it is the chombalongos.

SPEAKER_00 15:36

You know what I'm saying? I have seen those before. It's like little shells, right? Uh I was somebody had them around me one time and they were like, yeah, I was like, what? They were tossing them. I'm like, okay.

SPEAKER_01 15:50

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:54

Um, why do practitioners wear beads?

SPEAKER_02 15:58

So that can be a different type of conversation for others. You get what I mean? So personally, it's all right. So I believe for me, like, so I started off with beads, and it's just the thing with me personally, with the beads. It's not saying, hey, I need to wear these beads because I feel like I need the protection or anything like that. It's in a personal preference for myself. Because once in Palo and you have a morto, you know, saying you don't need the beats. You get what I mean? But due to certain practitioners, they use them for either a, they are their protection, their guidance, you get what I'm saying. They believe that, you get what I'm saying, they we'll protect them from any type of wrongdoings or anything like that. So it's a protection thing, but that's just like a physical thing for people to have. You get what I mean? Otherwise than knowing what surrounds you from the unseen.

SPEAKER_00 16:51

You know what I mean? I respect that because I assume people they do sometimes they say they charge them up when they wear them.

SPEAKER_02 16:58

Yeah, and which is understandable. They birthed them and stuff like that. Yeah, that's cool. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:04

That's dope right there. So the question is, what are what are the spiritual taboos and polo?

SPEAKER_02 17:12

Um, spiritual taboos and polo. Um, so a god father and a god child shouldn't I have no relations whatsoever. Um you should always you if you show disrespect to your god parents, um the consequence gets beyond. Um you doing things uncleanseful, like um whether you had some type of sexual activities before, you don't go to your altar space. Um, you know, you just show the utmost respect. You show the utmost respect to your godparents, whether or not, you know, right or wrong or however it goes, it's just you gotta show the main thing is to respect your lineage, respect your elders and respect, you know what I'm saying, what you're standing for. You get what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 18:06

Gotcha, I got you, I respect that. That's important. Being like spoken on lineage, how do how do lineage preserve their teachings across generations?

SPEAKER_02 18:17

So really traditionally, we're gonna say traditionally, um, it falls in the place of how you know what I'm saying one's tradition is. You get what I mean? Um whether it becomes a lifestyle or so much for thinking like, you know what I'm saying, like what guides you in the right way if you're following this current, because everything has a current, everything has its own energy and flow to it. So if you follow something that you're following the laws or the the the chain of command, then I feel like you would be in a in a good place.

Fire, Crossroads, Ancestors, Daily Balance

SPEAKER_00 19:04

You know what I mean? Got you, got you. Gotcha. This is this is beautiful learning about Apollo. Because we have people speak about Paulo, but I always like you know, get an understanding of the symbolism behind it, the science behind it. And it's very deep, like you know, it relates to all the elements. So, what role does the element of fire play in certain ceremonies?

SPEAKER_02 19:28

Fire? So it depends on how where we're going with it. You get what I mean? Is you know, it could play in major things because fire is an element and it is a very powerful element. So, for instance, for example, it can just say cleanse you. It could clean you, it can, you know what I'm saying, break off what surrounds you, and you get what I'm saying? It can, you know, it it can be it can be praised to enchanted over. You get what I mean? It's it's a strong element, you know, if you know how to use it the proper way.

SPEAKER_00 20:06

I got you. I don't know if are you sitting in front of your altar, brother?

SPEAKER_02 20:09

No, no, no, no. So that's my garden. Um my indoor garden. Yes, sir. Yes, sir, no, no altar.

SPEAKER_00 20:15

I'm like, is that all? Like you know, um why are crossroads why are crossroads spiritually symbolic in some traditions, like the crossroads?

SPEAKER_02 20:29

The crossroads can represent so many things. You know what I mean? You have to think of it like this. You have to have an open road for you to even get down the road, right? If it's a roadblock, you're not gonna go anywhere. So you need, for instance, you need all directions open for you. For all opportunities, for any type of prosperity, for anything to elevate yourself, you need different directions, not just one direction because what if that one direction is close. You get what I mean? So it plays a major part of, you know what I'm saying, um, you know, success, um, open ways, uh, protection. Um, it can be used in so many different ways for different traditions and how they, you know what I'm saying, they go about it, you know what I'm saying? But it is a main, a main element, like one of the main top elements to have is the controls.

SPEAKER_00 21:44

That's peace right there. How can um as a as a practitioner in every any practice, how can one create a strong connection with their ancestors or spirits in Palo? Like, how can like what are the things that one can do?

SPEAKER_02 22:04

So this is this is this is the thing people first have to realize that God is not outside of them. You get what I mean? Once they realize that God is not just outside of them, you get what I mean, and they believe that God is everywhere in everything. Everything has a spirit to it, everything has a life to it. And if you feel like it's a dry leaf, you can bring it back to life if you speak life back into it, right? So a lot of times people get the misconception of thinking, like, all right, well, you know, I'm not gonna work, I'm gonna worship something outside of me instead of worshiping myself. Once they start worshiping themselves and aligned, once you once you get um, once you get aligned with whatever's going on, then you figure out like, okay, God is on top. You get what I mean? God is on top of everything, and God is in everything. You get what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 23:16

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 23:17

So that being said, believe in yourself. Believe in yourself to know that you're breathing for someone else that was here before. You get what I'm saying? And their mission probably wasn't completed. So they're using you as that vessel, as that host, to continue doing what you have to do for yourself.

SPEAKER_00 23:33

All right, that's peace right there. That's that's real right there. Beautifully said. How does a person balance ordinary life with spiritual obligations? Like in within Apollo, because you know, heard people say that once they get initiated, and not going to details, like things change for them. When they go home, like the home will feel different. They will start sensing um what is it, merit mortals are close by. But how can you balance all that once you get initiated? Because now your third eye is open.

SPEAKER_02 24:06

You you you you have to become you have to you have to become one with your mortals. You have to become, you have to get that bond down with them to understand their their heat, their limits, you know what I'm saying? Um when it could get chaotic, um, sit there and bond and under get them to understand as you're trying to understand them. You get what I mean? So when I say that, you have to it's just becoming one. You have to sit there and align yourself. You get what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 24:45

Have you have you did you ever had any paranormal experiences? And like after you got scratched, anything like that on your in your personal life, anything different happened around you?

SPEAKER_02 24:55

I mean, paranormal experiences. I mean, I'm not gonna say paranormal experiences. I feel like it's familiar experiences that you, you know, I'm saying it is it's all on how you take it. But if you're if you're saying certain things, yeah, you know, they make their self known and ignor, you know, known there to be able to, you get what I'm saying, be able to let you know they're there. You know, you get what I mean? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:34

Any experiences like what they took the cereal bowl away from you, something like that?

SPEAKER_02 25:38

Like, things may fall, or you know, you may be going in circles if you got certain type of things going on, or certain ceremonies that you're going to or you're trying to attend to on your way there, you may be making a whole many circles, or like it is it they the sense of humor type thing.

SPEAKER_00 25:59

It mess with you, yeah. They test you, yes. Oh man. Um, how do initiates learn spiritual protection techniques safely?

SPEAKER_02 26:13

So they have to first learn from, you know, learn from their, they have to stay up under their godparents. When you're a new initiate, Apollo, it's no way of you going out there trying to freestyle stuff because once you do that, you know what I'm saying, you're gonna you're gonna harm yourself. So the best thing to do is get with your godparents and ask them what's ways that I could protect myself, my loved ones, and so on and so forth, so on and so on. Um, but it's all on how the Linux teach you what to do, how to do it, you get what I'm saying? Different ways is different, different houses are different. You get what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 26:52

Yeah, yeah, definitely, definitely. I respect that. Somebody in the comment section, I think Lissette, she's saying, My godfather caught a spirit in a jar, and you can't see the face print in the glass. Oh man, he had a genie, huh? That's peace right there. All right. What what what is the significance of iron and metal in Palo symbolism?

SPEAKER_02 27:19

Protection, um, strength, guardianship, um a warrior. Uh it speaks of nothing can break you. You know what I mean? You can use it in so many ways, you know, practices where you can use it, and you know, for instance, like these, you know what I'm saying? You could tie little ribbons around it, red ribbons, and use the cross as a you know, something to ward away negative energies if you prepare the proper way, or however you're gonna go about it. So it depends on the purpose of what you're using it for. But for mainly, it is definitely for protection and being able to hold the ground and hold things in place. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 28:08

Gotcha. And he said, like, so I know it's probably it was probably like um part of me, uh, like a change for you, like calling your godfather. And he's like, yo, this brother's calling me a lot. Were you like that? Were you on him a lot? Like, yo, you gotta show me this, give me that.

SPEAKER_02 28:24

Yeah, I I was one of those. I I I am one of those god children. Um, to my godfather, dearly, I love him to death. Like he knows, like um, for him, I talk to him every day. You get what I'm saying? Around the same time, we're both getting off work. Um, and you know, he's more or less not just my godfather. He's, you know, more he's a male figure in my life. You get he helps me. He's you know, he's older, you get what I'm saying? He's seen life for what it is. So he's more than just a godparent to me in the spirituality. He's he's someone I can lean on and trust. You get what I mean? And that's the main thing that you want to find as a new initiator, anything like that, to have, especially in this spiritual practice.

SPEAKER_00 29:11

Got you, man. Um, what is the meaning behind ritual songs in Palo? Because I'll be hearing some of the songs, they're beautiful, man.

SPEAKER_02 29:21

So those things are deaf, those, so they're mumbles, cantos, or however so many names people could use, prayers. Um they are empowerment. If you really listen to them, if you feel a certain type of way, that's another thing. If you hear those drums and you hear that music and you feel a certain type of way, it gives you that warrior sense, like, like you get what I mean? Like it's it it it's uh it's a touchy thing, you get what I mean, especially to, you know, the Mortos and you know, to Apollo. They they're definitely strength behind them, messages behind them, communication behind them. Um, and they're very powerful if you know how to use them in your ceremonies or any works that you do in Paulo.

Impungus, Songs, Cleansings, Home Defense

SPEAKER_00 30:12

Got you. Can you name any of the any deities within Palo? Like, you know, like you have the Orishas and Voodoo have the Loa. Are there any um deities that you can name off the top that are within Palo?

SPEAKER_02 30:27

Yeah, so we call them Impungus. So we have Cier de Rayo, we have Salabanda, we have Cholawenge, we have Timba Tera, we have Kumainde, Tata Infumbi, which um, you know, so Sierra Rayo is the impungo over the fire, the thunder, you know what I'm saying, over justice and stuff like that. You have salabanda, like we were talking about, iron, strong protector, you know what I'm saying, there, you get what I'm saying, Chola Wingay, Mama Chola is, you know, over the rivers, love, fertility, you know what I'm saying, protection, you get what I'm saying, and stuff like that, fortune and luck. You get what I'm saying? You got Mariagua of the mother of the oceans of all. You get what I mean. She's, you know, like I said, the mother, the protector. You get what I'm saying? She's there to definitely give you, open your ways, open your paths, wash away any bad that's there. Um, you got, you know, Lucetto. Lucetto is our crossroads. You know what I mean? He's definitely the beginning. If there's no Lucetto, it's no, it's nothing. You know, there's no Palo, it's nothing. You know what I'm saying? So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:48

Is he depicted as um the Catholic Saint Cyprian? Say Cyprian, something like that.

SPEAKER_02 31:54

Um, I'm not sure who that is, but he is, if you want to say it in different ways or different forms, like how everyone has uh a crossroad, a different legba, papa legba, stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 32:05

Right, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 32:07

All right, that's easier for people.

SPEAKER_00 32:09

Yeah, definitely. I had a I had a polo reading done. This is like sometime, like four, probably four or five years ago. And they did one of the spirits that you did mention, they say, Yeah, that's who's with you. And I was like, What?

SPEAKER_01 32:22

That's cool, that's cool, that's cool.

SPEAKER_00 32:24

Like the reading was like, you know, it was pretty intense. Like, dude, it was it was wild. I was like, oh wow, okay. Um, it was a pretty deep one. How are spiritual cleansings performed after a difficult experience in Palo?

SPEAKER_02 32:42

As in how are they performed? What do you mean by that?

SPEAKER_00 32:49

Um, as far as like the cleansing, like cleansing, like herbs and stuff like that. Say somebody say, I want to be cleansed, I have something going on with me. Like, how how are how how's the preparation of that?

SPEAKER_02 32:59

You don't have to get into like, you know, like divining, again, divining, figuring out what's going on. Um what's going on, what's going on in the sense of um what their situation is. You get what I'm saying? So it may need a certain amount of herbs. So you gotta divinate that and certain things he may be added to that bath. And then, you know, you give your blessings to it. You get what I'm saying? You get your you give your blessings to it and you keep everything moving forward. You you just put your blessings into it. Like make the herbs, tear them. You can boil them, some people boil them. Um, some people like dry herbs. A lot of people love live herbs, you get what I mean? You use different colonias and stuff like that, and you put the right intentions into it. And then you're you're you're there to help whatever that person's case is, the complexity of that case. You get what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 34:01

Yeah, I I seen those colonias, the tobacco 1804, I think 1801, something like that. 1800.

SPEAKER_02 34:06

Yeah, 1800, 1800.

SPEAKER_00 34:08

1800. Yeah, I seen some of those. Um, yo, them things do smell good, bro. Oh my god, that's that's dope. That's dope. And you said about as far as protection with steel and metal, how do practitioners protect their home?

SPEAKER_02 34:25

I mean, so many have different ways. You get what I'm saying? Um, whether it's using livestock to protect their homes, whether it's, you know, using um putting their and uh their celestial court in place, in position, um, whether it's um more or less bringing yourself to the point of like what complexity of how protection. So people could take, okay, for instance, you could take, if you know the preparation of certain lines are different on how they prepare the spikes in the ground. So you could take four spikes and put them in the four corners of your home. Certain ingredients for certain traditions, you get what I'm saying? You pray over it, you believe in that, you know what I'm saying? You know that your house is protected, is locked down, it's nothing gonna come through there. It's nothing gonna break through there. You know what I'm saying? Some people use chains at their door. If you see chains at people's front door, a lot of times what that is, that's cutting. Nothing will come over that if you do the pre the proper ceremony for that chain. You get what I mean? Um nothing is gonna break through. It's different ways. Um, you could clean your front door with different things, with herbs and stuff like that. Um so many different ways. There's so many forms you could do it, bro.

SPEAKER_00 35:47

I like that. It sounds sounds good. I like that. How do elders test test a student's readiness?

SPEAKER_02 35:58

Letting them take over.

SPEAKER_00 36:00

Oh, really?

SPEAKER_02 36:01

And certain in certain situations, like they'd be like, so a god parent might be like, hey, you know, if you're here, you know, if you're in the presence of them, you'll they'd be like, hey, do this for me. Because you done been there already. He done taught you that already. You don't seen, you know what I'm saying? You don't see them do it. So he might he might put you on the spot. And sometimes they might give you little little tasks to do. You get what I mean? But a lot a lot of times elders really just watch a lot of times. The elders that I know, traditional elders, they watch, they listen, they pay attention, you get what I'm saying? And they don't right off the bat let you know if you are making a slip up, that you're making that slip up. They'll try to do it in the best, humblest way possible. You get what I'm saying? To guide you and direct you, but still give you that, hey, you're messing up, you get what I'm saying? Or hey, you're doing good. You feel me?

SPEAKER_00 37:02

Got you, I got you. That's dope. So that like say a ceremony taking place, they'd be like, yo, go ahead, just rock out. They'll be they'll be there, they'll be there to watch, as you said.

SPEAKER_02 37:10

They'll be like, Yeah, they're they're there to oversee a situation, and they're they're there to, hey, okay, try this. Do you feel like that works? How do you feel with it? Try this. You get what I'm saying? Like it's the guidance, it's the teachings that you get from the elders. You get what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00 37:28

Got you. I I respect that. What role does does dreams play in Palo?

SPEAKER_02 37:34

Readings?

SPEAKER_00 37:36

Dreams play after a ceremony, like after a ceremony takes dreams. Yeah, dreams.

SPEAKER_02 37:40

So dreams can dreams, dreams can awaken you and show you signs, messages. Dreams can let you know where you're supposed to, what you're supposed to do. So you might you may be thinking, you may have a dream of a certain embungle or a certain spirit or the essence of it, or you feel it in your sleep that you wake up. And they may be giving you signs with certain animals. They may give you signs with certain type of elements that you're in, if it's how is the mood and stuff like that. So I mean, it can all be, you know what I'm saying? It can be used powerfully, and people have to pay attention to their dreams, especially if they're asking for confirmation. You get what I'm saying? Especially if it's something that's really need to be there. If it's not meant to be taken lightly lightly, do not take it lightly. You get what I'm saying? Your dreams can open up, just give you the keys. You get what I'm saying to certain things. It depends. Some people are just dreamers. And if they say something, you get what I'm saying, they say, Oh, I had a dream of that, be careful. Because that's a gift. That's a gift.

Justice, Patience, Misconceptions, Closing

SPEAKER_00 38:43

That's deep right there. All right, that's peace right there. How does Paloma Yombe approach justice and accountability?

SPEAKER_02 38:55

So personally, I think when it comes to justice and accountability, are you saying within the munazo, within the family? What what do you mean?

SPEAKER_00 39:07

Umazo. Um what's a munazo before we go further?

SPEAKER_02 39:13

So it's like a house. I'm sorry. So like a spiritual house, the spiritual D'Apollo house.

SPEAKER_00 39:17

All right, I got you. Like I'm sorry, as far as justice and accountability in any form, within the house or out with the outside world, say that you're not you're a Tata. Somebody disrespects you. Or somebody, a loved one. Like, how do you do you react on it based in instinctively, or you just you must go to your court and find out what's going on?

SPEAKER_02 39:38

No, no, listen. More or less, I'm I don't want to see nobody like, you know, saying, down, bad, messed up. And we gotta learn that uh the extinct of how certain things can play out. If you're if you're you know, if it's a life-threatening situation, then yeah, you have to go, you you have to stand 10-toes. But if it's like a, you know what I'm saying, uh, uh tit for tat, like it's you, I don't believe in bringing my court to every little problem, you get what I'm saying? That may I can handle on my like that I can either if I can't talk about it or if it's like not really a lethal little thing, a little rift, hey, you know what I'm saying? I'm not gonna I pray for peace. I pray for the the blessings. I let the ways be open. You get what I'm saying? If you do me wrong, then that's on you. You get what I'm saying? Because at the end of the day, no matter how we look at it, something has to come back around in some way. Whether or not if it's gets to that extinct, like it shouldn't, a lot of times I'm not the one to go to my Nkisi room or my my congles and you know what I'm saying, do stuff because I'd rather it's a difference on what you believe. You get what I'm saying, in different ways for sure.

SPEAKER_00 40:59

I like that, man. It's a fact because some people let their ego get the best of them and then go out there and carry the most, you know, ridiculous attacks on somebody and over the most dumbest things, the most minute things.

SPEAKER_02 41:11

Yeah, especially it'd be it'd be petty, but you know, that's the thing, you know what I'm saying? You don't know what's done behind closed doors with people do. You know what I'm saying? So you also gotta, you know, not let your guard down, make it aware, you get what I'm saying, but it's not you don't know, you get what I'm saying? Like every little thing don't need a reaction, every action don't need a reaction at that time.

SPEAKER_00 41:36

Talk about it. No, it's a fact. It's a fact. I like that because I don't used to ask that question, and I'm glad you answered it that way, because I be seeing these antics online amongst people within these spiritual communities that be like, oh, really? Yeah, I'm gonna light you up, I'm gonna do this and that. I'm like, you got initiated for the wrong reasons then.

SPEAKER_02 41:52

Yeah, and some people, you know, and that's you know, that if that's their craft and that's what they believe in, if that's how they go about it, you know, and follow, you know, that's like I said, you you make follow what you want to make follow. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 42:07

Gotcha. I got you. Why is patience considered important in spiritual development?

SPEAKER_02 42:15

Because nothing comes to a rush but a mess. You know what I mean? So it's like, okay, if you realize it, you can get up on a day-to-day base. Like if I get up for work and I'm if I need to be there at a certain time and I ain't get up in the right time, and I'm trying to rush, you know, take my shower for the morning, get myself prepared, and get my truck started and keep it moving. But throughout that process, I done forgot something very valuable to my day. Whether it's my headset, whether it's my charger, whether it was something. But if I would have taken my time, you get what I'm saying, I would have, I would have got everything. So in the process of that, it's basically like you gotta have patience with yourself because things sometimes that don't come to people like this. You know what I'm saying? You have to sit there and analyze self-you gotta have discipline for yourself to understand that it's not gonna come on your time, on the fleshly time. It doesn't come on the fleshly time. That's when I say that the spirit has to beat the flesh at times. You know what I mean? Because if we believe that like it's supposed to happen just like this, it's not gonna happen like that. If you're expecting it to happen like this, it's definitely gonna prolong it from happening. You get what I'm saying? So patience is definitely, you gotta be patient with yourself and be patient with the process, respect the process, I shall call it. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00 43:43

No, it it makes sense because it's like a lot of responsibilities come with that patience and the knowledge that you acquire. So you become very things are very fragile at that stage. Like, you know, you gotta be very careful in what you do. Got your eyes for T.

SPEAKER_02 43:55

Very kind of flimsy and it could it could go any type of way. You know, you feel like it go this way, but you know, it could go that way. You know what I mean? You just gotta you gotta take your time. Like it's take your time. You know what I'm saying? It's a life commitment with these things, you know what I'm saying? What stuff you stand for. So it's no rush.

SPEAKER_00 44:15

All right. I don't know if you can if you can answer this, but I'm gonna ask, why are certain colors symbolically important in rituals?

SPEAKER_02 44:26

So I'm gonna answer that for you in the best way I can answer that. And we're gonna say it like this, it's representation. Representation. Like it's just representing whatever's going on, representing what you stand for, representing a belief, you know what I'm saying, representing uh energy, you know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00 44:47

And nah, that's a fact, yeah. You're right, and it's a certain vibration with that too. Got you. How ritual objects spiritually cleanse. I respect that. I respect that. Nah, um damn man, like you say you've been four years you've been a tie top four. Damn, you might be young. How old are you, bro?

SPEAKER_02 45:16

I'm 31.

SPEAKER_00 45:17

Young, man. That's dope, man.

SPEAKER_02 45:19

That's dope.

SPEAKER_00 45:19

Are you the are you the only person in your family that practiced this this this craft or others?

SPEAKER_02 45:25

In my face. So it it's a lot of stuff from growing, you know, people was trying to sweep under the rug. You get what I'm saying? Growing up.

SPEAKER_00 45:32

Like in what?

SPEAKER_02 45:34

And stuff like that, where, you know what I'm saying? It was in our face, and we didn't realize it, where I knew, like, you know, I had a couple aunties that practiced whatever they did, and then you had a couple people over here practicing this over here. But the mainly, it was more or less like people, you know, my people believed more or less in Christianity. And, you know, had some people in the Masons, you know what I'm saying? Um stuff like that. You know, my grandfather, my grandmother was the Eastern star, my grandfather was a mason, then he went to Shriners and all of that good stuff, you know.

SPEAKER_00 46:05

So you got you got you got a solid background in the cult, in the cult sign spirituality.

SPEAKER_02 46:12

I would say so, but it wasn't the thing about it, is with me, and you know, I don't know if it's crazy to say this, but it's kind of like I kind of resent in a sense, like, because like why would they let me know this, you know what I'm saying? The T on this, you know what I mean? Like they do that oh, you know, like you know, you could have trained me the right way, you know what I'm saying? But you know, it happens that way, you know. We can't we don't pick our destiny in that sense, you know what I'm saying? So, you know, it's done like they didn't allow that to be presented to me. You get what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 46:40

It's your own journey, they want you to find your own path, create your own path. Yeah, and then you can sit down at the table and talk to them, like, yeah, this is where I'm at right now.

SPEAKER_02 46:48

Yeah, yeah, they wanted you to figure out yourself, you get what I mean, and nothing was forced, nothing was really talked about. And and the thing is, like it was a lot of things was kept secret, you know what I'm saying? You hear a little chitter-chatter, but in within mine, you know what I'm saying, my family, they was it was things kept secret a lot. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00 47:08

Very secret, especially with a geechy background, you know they got down with the stuff with the with the with the potwork.

SPEAKER_02 47:13

Yeah, for sure, for sure. And that's the thing, you know what I'm saying? Now being older and realizing what it was, like, yeah, it's it it was in front of you the whole time, definitely.

SPEAKER_00 47:25

That's be that's be that's beautiful, man. So it's been four years. Like, do you um are they is there like a uh uh a step further than Tata? Or it stops right there. Or you're gonna pass on that.

SPEAKER_02 47:42

So I mean an elder. I mean, I'm gonna answer it like that. I'm gonna just say elder because I I'm not sure on that how to answer that. So I'm I'm just gonna pass on that one.

SPEAKER_00 47:55

I respect that respect that. Because you know the polo thing, you know, when some when people hear poly they they usually invoke some fear in the people, they'd be like, oh, it's it's it's a form of necromancy or whatsoever. I'm like, you know.

SPEAKER_02 48:09

I mean, if you look at any if you look at a lot of this stuff, it's um a lot of things kind of align, or whatever people may want to call it necromancy, uh praying rocks, or you know, whatever may be the case. You know, that you know, people may on the outside may look at it, or you're devil worshiping or stuff like that. At the end of the day, if we really look at this the core source of this and everything to it, and really put our nose in the books and really study, we'll realize that religion was man-made, spirituality was not, it is born in you as you breathe your air, as you're sitting in there, you get what I'm saying? And we're passing through to, like I said, for a purpose. You get what I mean? So, you know, it's all on how you take it from that. You get what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 49:06

It's you know now it's beautiful, no. That's real right there, man. And that's why I always look at it like that. Because, you know, my family background is Catholic, Christian, few Masons, Voodoo, Voodoo, Voodoo.

SPEAKER_02 49:22

You got a variety, they got a variety, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:26

And you know, you know, they used to try to hide that stuff, but I'm like, it's all around us, like when you know, growing up with a child, I see you pour out water, pour out some coffee, some rum, a candle, and you're going in all four directions, and then yeah, they're like trying to hide that from me.

SPEAKER_02 49:41

You know, yeah, like well, y'all been boiling stuff on the on the stove and stuff, and I just didn't know it. When y'all actually like little stuff like that, like the little basics, like you'd be like, Oh, are we eating that?

SPEAKER_00 49:53

No, that's not for us to eat it. Yeah, yeah, that's not for us to eat. I'm like, Oh, I thought that was for us to eat. Oh, you're not that's not for you to eat. I'm like, okay. You know, then you see a little plate on the floor in the corner with a candle next to him. Like, who's that for? Don't worry about that. So you know, don't put no salt on that food right there, leave it. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, you you know about that. Don't put no salt on there. So, um it's it's it's it's it's a beautiful thing, man. And I always like it, like all these practices I say are different rooms within the same house because they all deal with nature, spirituality, it's not religious. It's just it was just was hidden behind religious figures because you know slavery, unfortunately. But these are beautiful practices, and I always liken myself to like going into Palo. I'm like, yo, Palo is is hot, it's a hot thing, man.

SPEAKER_02 50:45

It's it's a beautiful, it's a beautiful system, man. It it is, it is a beautiful tradition. Um especially when you you got the right spiritual family behind you, you know what I'm saying? And you have people to turn to, you know what I mean? Where you don't feel alone. And, you know, a lot of times people don't be fortunate enough to have that, you know what I'm saying, where they have a good god parent that they can just pick up the phone and just chick-chat, or if they're going through something and stuff like that. They don't have that. Um, so on the path, Apollo, the big thing is being patient and letting letting things unfold how it's supposed to unfold without pressuring it or forcing it. You get what I mean? So with the right guidance and direction and the right teachings, um, I feel like you know what I'm saying, everything will align itself and you will see the true beauty and the true compassion. Sorry. There's the true compassion for the tradition itself. You get what I mean? Um and understand that no matter if you're getting little to a lot, you're you're gonna evolve regardless. You know what I mean? And you just gotta trust the process.

SPEAKER_00 52:16

Talk about it, man. You guys got some guess some water over there, some liquor, you probably need a little shot, you know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_01 52:23

Nah, you good, you good, he's good, he's good, man.

SPEAKER_00 52:27

It's like that. When you I get like that when you talk about that, you get into it, like it's like the energy goes through you. But yeah, man, it's a beautiful thing, man. It's a beautiful thing, man. That that Apollo. Uh I always wanted to talk, talk about, get into that. Because I've I be seen some things they be doing. I'm like, damn, they ain't playing. These brothers are not playing. They really on, they ain't really on their game.

SPEAKER_02 52:49

Yeah, you gotta, you gotta, it's, it's you. It's you. You gotta, it's you versus you in this. You get what I mean? And while you're doing you versus you, you you you're shadowed. And you're definitely, you know it. You know, it's great.

SPEAKER_00 53:07

All right then, my brother. I appreciate that, man, for you coming out, Tata Nico. You gotta come back out, brother. You gotta do more, man.

SPEAKER_02 53:14

Let me know, man. I it was a pleasure being here, man. I appreciate this for sure, man.

SPEAKER_00 53:18

Man, definitely you you rocked it out, man. What where can the people find you, man?

SPEAKER_02 53:22

Uh, I'm on TikTok. I got Instagram um under at Deadman Lighthouse. That's my you know, my little business there, Dead Man Lighthouse. Or you can hit me at Dr. Anico on TikTok. Um, those are my two platforms that I got for you right now. But yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:41

Definitely we gotta get more, we gotta get more into this, man. Take a trip out there one day. Florida, go get go get that scratch work. Ow! You know what I'm saying? Yeah, like I'm ready to go, people. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, but with that being said, family, don't forget to comment, like, share, subscribe. You know what I'm saying? Check out Tata Nico. Go back, watch this video two times. The brother's got a lot of information, man. You know what I'm saying? Very young dude, it's the youngest Tata I ever met, came across, man. So this is this is this is this is dope, man. Stay, stay, yo, for real. Stay stay on the path, brother. Keep doing your thing, man. For us, of course. You're gonna keep keep giving birth to these guys' children, keep them in check, man. So they don't be out here doing nothing crazy. Yeah, yeah. I know it's I know it's tough. I know, I know.

SPEAKER_02 54:30

Yeah, yeah, it's a responsibility, but you know, gotta take it, baby. You gotta take it.

SPEAKER_00 54:36

All right, then, all right, then. With that being said, NYP family, we are out. Peace.

SPEAKER_02 54:42

I'm like