It was the fall of 1970, when I entered St. Josephs Catholic School. The church is on 125^{th ST.} and Amsterdam Ave, Harlem, New York City. It was for 4^th grade. And, I guess the old folks, decided enough of public school education, let’s give him to the Nuns. The school was about a block or two away and today, I believe the church and school, is closed. It was not far from Morning Side Park, for those that know the area.

How could I ever forget Sister Denise, enough times I got both palms slapped with taped rulers, for fighting in the middle of class, while she was giving a lesson. I was the new kid that year, so everyone had to try me. It wasn’t that I was a bad kid; it’s just that everyone else had bad intentions upon me (ah). This was the time in which I first heard of the study of religion. For some reason, it had always struck a nerve in me. And, along with history, geography, and literature, my grades reflected my interest. I enjoyed religion class, could not wait for the following week when we’d, have it again. It was a private school, so one teacher taught all courses for that year. So, every day of the week, we’d study and learn a different subject.

During this time period my awareness in spirituality awakened. Yes, the hoodoo at home, while going to church on Sunday. I remember coming home one day, and as I was getting ready to open the door, the door miraculously opened in front of me. All I can see was a bucket and bluish perfumed water, with white flower petals, being tossed out the door. All I can do was duck, and run passed it, before it landed on me. I would say “what the heck is going on around here.” Then little by little, I started noticing more things. There was a room, which my grandmother had, the spiritual room (el quarto spiritual). And, there is where she attended people that would come to see her pass spirit (pasando espiritu). When I asked, my mom or dad what was grandma doing with those people there. That was what they said, she is passing spirit, almost in a whisper. I would sneak up to the closed door, to hear the person speaking to her, asking questions, and she would answer in a different voice. I new it was her, yet the voice was changed. One day, I heard a scream, and a loud yell, “en el nombre de San Rafael; en el nombre de San Miguel; en el nombre del espiritu santo y la divina providencia, suelte esta materia.” Which means in the name of St. Raphael, in the name of St. Michael, in the name of the Holy Spirit and the divine providence, leave this matter (the individual). There would be a loud hoarse like breathing, and panting, and then someone would fall to the floor. Needless, to say I know this because my sister and I would be looking through a little crack of the door which we had opened. My grandfather would come running down the hall way and catching us peeping would say. “Salgan de alli; get out of there.” And, we would run into the kitchen laughing. He would go into the room to assist the person to the chair, and for what ever else, he would be needed.

Soon after this, my sister and I were invited to sit in on at home spiritual masses. Needless to say, it always began with a spiritual alter set up, folks sitting in a circle, and many (Lords Prayers), (Hail Mary), and (Glory to the Father), being recited. Which by then we had learned in school, and practiced each Sunday at church. There were many other prayers and hymns that as I assisted, would soon begin to recognize and learn. As time went on and I grew older, I’d catch myself humming some of these Cuban spiritualist hymns. Which, even though since then my gramps have long gone to a better realm, they are still engraved in my sub-consciousness, and keeps me connected to them. Let me say, that what I’ve learned seen, and experienced, can not at times be so easily expressed in writing. Yet, I will every now and then, give it a try, like I’m so doing now.

One profound spiritual incident which has stayed uniquely imbedded within me, from that time, around 1971. Was of, a lady crying in the spiritual room, it was with such suffering, soar, and with a loud out cry of “O mi hijo, O mi hijo.” “O my son, O my son.” A voice would respond, “no llores mi madre; Don’t cry my mother”, So I remember. Later, I found out my grandmother had passed the spirit of the lady’s son, which had died a year early, in the Vietnam War. Young as I was, I knew this must have bought the lady some sort of comfort, to be in the spiritual presence of her lost child (deep).

I started writing this article, to show the first time I had heard the name St. Raphael (San Rafael medico divino). My grandmother would invoke this angel in order to heal, cure, or exorcise, a negative spirit/energy, which contributed to a persons illness or disease. She mentioned; “The body needs to be spiritually cleansed, for all medicine to work, and the medical doctor being able to diagnose properly.” “And, with the divine intervention of St. Raphael may the person; the day they go into a hospital for an operation, or treatment of any kind; obtain the proper healing.” Even though, this article can be categorized under the paranormal topics. I just wanted to share, how I first was introduced to the spirit world, not just through church, but also at home.

Today, 39 years later and a practicing Yoruba Lucumi Ifa Priest(Babalawo), I became reacquainted with the spirituality of the archangel Raphael. While putting to practice my Ifa training, (as in working the religion), at a goddaughter’s house in Texas. I was explaining to her about the interaction between spiritual beings and man. And, how they can manifest by way of her spiritual alter. When at that moment, her father called and said he needed help with his horses. One of them, had just got sick, and had already been prepared for a race that weekend. He had been loosing, and wanted to win. What could we do? So, I took out my divination chain (Opele), invoked the spirituality of Ifa (Orunmila). And, what came to my mind too ask (as an example for manifestation of an angel), was if by cleaning the stables with a strong incense (that is spiritually blessed through Ifa), washed the horse with a strong spiritually blessed soap (generated with spiritual herbs), and an offering of flowers & candle to St. Raphael the divine angel of healing; would his horses win?. The answer I obtained was yes! Hence, we went to work. With some healing herbs and plain soap, I prepared the spiritual soaps. Then, took some frankincense, myrrh, sulfur powder, and other ingredients; created a strong incense for smoking out negativity from the stables. We put the names of the horses on her spiritual alter. On top of the names, a glass of water dedicated to the angel. Followed by presentation of the flowers and lighting of the candle to St. Raphael the archangel. Finally, we invoked our ancestors, and St. Raphael, in the name of God and all the Saints in heaven. That the horses be healed, and win all their races. And, could you believe they all won their races that weekend. This is one of many testaments I‘ve had, relating to the manifestation of divinities, angels, Orisha, spirits, deities, with us.

For all those that are into angel lore. Let it be known I’ve read most of the hubs that are out there under the Angel topic. And, they are all great! I just wanted to contribute with a little extra info I read in a book called “Dictionary of Angels Including fallen angels”, by Gustav Davidson. It sounded like this guy did his home work.

Here are some notes:

St. Augustine said "Every visible thing in this world, is put under the charge of an Angel"

Genesis Rabba,10, “There is not a stalk on Earth that has not its protector or guardian angel”

Church doctrine dictates that angels like humans are born with free will. Yet, at the moment of their creation by God, they are given a choice to make. To serve good or evil, and this choice is irrevocable. So they are fixed eternally to this choice.

Man enjoys free will. This may or may not be to his advantage. For how do you measure the merits of man; as in back and forth.

God created angels to serve him. God assigns angels to planetary systems, to maintain order in the universe, nature, and protect man.

They respond to invocation when properly formulated and conditions appropriate.

In occult lore angels are conjured to help an individual strengthen his faith, heal his afflictions, increase worldly possessions, procure offspring, find lost articles or documents, and circumvent or destroy enemies.

Angels are immortal willed into existence by God, yet not eternal, only God is.

God burned the angels of peace & truth along with the hosts under them, as well as a legion of administrative angels for objecting to the creation of man. A project God was so determined to complete, in which he than repented Genesis 6:6. (Could this be why there is no peace on Earth today, and man seems so disorganized).

The only known men/woman that were turned into angels are; Enoch (Metatron), Elijah (Sandalphon), St.Francis (Rhamiel), Anne Mary’s mother (Anas)

True angels are pure spirits and so should be bodiless and hence sexless. (Hmmm; does this mean that they can enter a human body by way of possession, in order to manifest themselves).

When obtaining this book you will find something very interesting in the Back....

How to Conjure Angels... Sounded to me like the Jewish & Christian versions of Hoodoo!!!