Hector Salva - The 21 Divisions

Based on his own deep insights as a brujo (wizard), Hector Salva has written a concise, colorful introduction to the divinities and rituals of Dominican Vodou. This is religious ethnography as it should be written and read.

Donald Cosentino, professor emeritus of world arts and cultures at the University of California, Los Angeles, and author of Sacred Arts of Haitian Vodou and In Extremis: Death and Life in Twenty-First Century Haitian Art

As both an academic and a priest of Afro-Diasporic traditions, I often react with hopeful trepidation when anyone who doesn't wear both those hats publishes a book on the subject. I am therefore pleased with this offering from Hector Salva. Neither a dry analysis nor simply another attempt at a DIY manual, this book combines a personal journey of religious exploration with a broad view of the diverse and multifaceted tradition of Dominican Vod (21 Divisions). Anyone reading this will come away with a better understanding of Afro-Dominican religiosity.

Eoghan Craig Ballard, PhD, ethnographer

This book is a must-have! Papa Hector has filled it full of information needed to understand the Mysteries. The 21 Divisions contains valuable information for both the novice and the experienced worker. Papa Hector explains each division in detail that is easy to understand, and there are some hidden jewels, if you really listen. To be honest, when I was reading The 21 Divisions, I had to force myself to put it down. I have not read a book in a long time that held me captive like this one has. Papa Hector has written this book in a way that you feel like he is speaking directly to you. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Starr Casas, author of Old Style Conjure and Divination Conjure Style

From the riveting accounts of the hardships endured by the African slaves and their ingenious tactics for preserving their spiritual beliefs to a detailed description of Dominican Voodoo and its deities, The 21 Divisions is a masterpiecea fascinating and reader-friendly explanation of these previously enigmatic magico-religious practices. Both my blood relatives and spiritual elders, all born in the early 1900s, practiced Cuban Santeriaan African Traditional Religion (ATR) that closely parallels many aspects of Dominican Voodoo. Until I read The 21 Divisions, it was my fear that the moral codes of honor associated with those practices had died along with that generation. Instead, Hector Salva has emphatically preserved the integrity and outstanding character brought forth by the African slaves and deemed necessary to be an expert and honorable practitioner. This book is an exceptional, one-of-a-kind classic!

Miss Aida, author of Hoodoo Cleansing and Protection Magic

French and Spanish colonizers carved an island in half, but they could not kill its people's spirits. Many have heard of the African Diaspora traditions of the Haitian side of this island, but not as many know about the Dominican side. Papa Hector Salva introduces us to the world of the 21 Divisions of Dominican Voodoo. The 21 Divisions is a deep, colorful narrative about a lesser-known tradition and its continued survival inside the Dominican Republic and throughout the rest of the world. Papa Hector's contribution to our understanding of the Misterios and their servants is important and deeply needed.

Mambo Chita Tann, author of Haitian Vodou: An Introduction to Haiti's Indigenous Spiritual Tradition

The 21 Divisions (Dominican Vodou) possesses a long and very complex oral tradition that resists losing its own essence. In his book The 21 Divisions, Hector Salva takes on the rigorous task (and personal challenge) of writing down these traditions and secrets, and polishing them with great and remarkable precision, so that they are linguistically understandable to the public. The author approaches these oral traditions from a clearer and more modern point of view, writing with immense and delicate detail to deliver a complete manual of knowledge and anecdotes, and leading you to feel as if you are witnessing those wonderful passage rituals in the company of the spirits. Hector explains the workings of the brujo's magic, los Misterios, the spirits, and the Divisions in an amazing book about magic and brujera. It should be noted that the author's descriptive ability is brilliant. Far from being just another book full of infinite formulas, Hector focuses on providing a manual fully loaded with detailed information and knowledge properly explained, so that this guide becomes one of those books that you will consult again and again.

Elhoim Leafar, author of The Magical Art of Crafting Charm Bags

Mysteries and Magic of
DOMINICAN VOODOO

HECTOR SALVA

foreword by Hoodoo Sen Moise, author of Working Conjure

This edition first published in 2020 by Weiser Books, an imprint of

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC

With offices at:

65 Parker Street, Suite 7

Newburyport, MA 01950

www.redwheelweiser.com

Copyright 2020 by Hector Salva

Foreword copyright 2020 by Hoodoo Sen Moise

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from
Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

ISBN: 978-1-57863-681-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
available upon request

Cover design by Kathryn Sky-Peck

Cover illustration: The Altar by Lucia Mendez

Interior photos/images by Steve Amarillo / Urban Dessign LLC

Typeset in ITC Stone Serif and IM Fell

Printed in Canada

MAR

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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To the Absolute God and Divine Mysteries,
All People, My Teachers, Guides, Ancestors,
Family, Friends, Supporters and Readers...
May You Find Unity with the Absolute

What You Seek is Seeking You.

Rumi

To the 21 Divisiones
Metresa MamboAnaisa Danto Pye Basico
And all those who have supported
and sacrificed for the Great Work
In Unity, There Is Power.

The tradition of the 21 Divisions is one that holds many mysteries. The spirits of this wonderful tradition are there to bring guidance, assistance, freedom, healing, and so much more. And yet, they are often misunderstood and misinterpreted to mean something that is, in actuality, the complete opposite of the principles and teachings of this spiritual path.

One of the things I love about Hector Salva's book is the detailed explanations of the spirits served and the relationships that are developed. The Mysteries hold within them the power to create magical change and the wisdom to open doors that you never thought possible. From the bonds that hold us to the freedom we can achieve, service and relationships with the spirits are key. It is by that relationship, after all, that we tap into the magical force of the Mysteries and potency of change in all conditions. Hector goes into detail with the principles which guide and allow for the reader to experience, not just the words but also the power to grow.