AMERICAN QUIMBANDA SPIRITUAL PRACTITIONERS

"A Guide to Know Thyself"

By. Carlos Antonio De Bourbon Galdiano Montenegro
In the American Quimbanda religious tradition "Knowing Thyself" is perhaps one o
f the most important aspects of an individual's successful spiritual development
. "Knowing Thyself" and the importance of having good character and integrity ar
e key elements to achieving success in this lifetime. By mastering and incorpora
ting these key elements into your life you will be able to achieve all of your d
esires without limitation. The spiritual concept of good character and integrity
are the sacred keys of "Exu" the cosmic universal energy of change and transfor
mation. This "Exu" energy assists mankind with the ability to be able to unlock
the doors to our unconscious mind into the conscious mind to be able to have suc
cess in this life. It is very important to remember, that it is isn't important
how others define your character or integrity. What is important is how you defi
ne yourself within the meaning of life and within your inner self. By implementi
ng the spiritual concepts of good character and integrity into your life, you wi
ll be able to free your minds of negative thought patterns and break the fetters
around your mind, which only has meaning because you alone have allowed others
to define you and did not take responsibility to define yourself. You alone have
the power to do this because Nzambi gave each and everyone us freedom of choice
. This concept of freedom of choice is the greatest gift that Nzambi bestowed up
on mankind. The freedom to decide our own destiny and how we define our personal
and spiritual self also includes the concepts of good character and integrity.
The crossroads of these spiritual concepts is called freedom of choice, where th
e Spirit Exu meets each of us as we begin a new day. You alone have the power to
change your destiny by implementing these very important spiritual concepts tha
t Nzambi placed inside of each and every one of us. Take responsibility for your
choices and make a change. In the Spiritual Practice of American Quimbanda ther
e is no such thing as right or wrong choices, only consequences for our choices.
In the Spiritual Practice of American Quimbanda it is important that the individ
ual initiate become aware of really who they are by "knowing Thyself" before per
forming any magical rituals and ceremonies. By "Knowing Thyself" you will then b
ecome aware of how good it feels to be walking in the presence of the "divine li
ght" of your "True Self." Before you begin your spiritual walk, it is important
that you completely understand this concept if you want to see your spiritual re
quests manifest on the physical plane and into existence. By "Knowing Thyself" t
here is nothing that you will not be able to accomplish because all magical requ
ests will be done when you are in "perfect balance" and in "perfect harmony" wit
h your "True Self".
By studying mysticism and the religious philosophy of American Quimbanda and inc
orporating it's magical principles into your life, you will transform you life i
nto success, regardless of whatever unfortunate circumstances or situation that
you may be currently faced with or going through right now.
American Quimbanda teaches us that by mastering the Gnostic principles and myste
ries of the Universe through spirituality you will be able to overcome any and a
ll challenges that life presents to you.
Through the study of the spiritual concept that Nzambi created all men and women
with the ability to have "freedom of choice", we become aware and have a greate
r respect for ourselves and for others, which makes us responsible for our choic
es and to accept the consequences for our choices, whether it be negative or pos
itive.
In our spiritual practice and philosophy of American Quimbanda, there is no righ
t and there is no wrong, only consequences that result for our choices and decis
ions.
By understanding and mastering the concept of "freedom of choice", we can then b
egin to transform our lives into a permanent positive direction, which flows fre
ely without negative experiences or the negative energy of guilt, which fetters
our spirit and soul.
Through the study of spiritual self-empowerment through the American Quimbanda r
eligious tradition, we can then begin to fully understand just how important eac
h and every one of us are, why we are here and also learn how to achieve success
in this lifetime by awakening the inner "Exu" energy of change and transformati
on found within each of us and to also come to know that Nzambi, the God of the
Heavens and the Earth is found within each and every one of us.
Through the study of the American Quimbanda mysteries, all individuals can come
to know and to realize their full potential. By mastering these cosmic and unive
rsal Gnostic principles, your life will be enriched and there won't be anything
that you will not be able to accomplish or do.
The key to life is happiness. Through the study of American Quimbanda, you can a
lso learn how to free your minds of any and all negative thought patterns which
have a direct impact on your daily life.
Through the study of American Quimbanda, you can finally take control of your li
fe and determine your destiny and have all of the good things that life can brin
g and that you deserve.
Today, I thought it would be a great time to assist those in need of some very g
ood thoughts about their spiritual journey and the direction of "How to Know Thy
self" and the process of self transformation, so I put together this "Know Thyse
lf Guide Book" for you to assist you on your spiritual journey.
Step One: Find Your Bliss
Start by exploring what kindles your passion, inspires you, and makes your life
worth living. It is important to discover your personal definition of happiness.
Once you discover the sacred ingredients of your personal bliss, you can create
a statement that defines in your own words what your bliss is and thus your ide
a of what is happiness.
Through mastering this First Step, you will be on your way to start making life
decisions and choices that take you there to your purpose of life.
Step Two: Discover Your Reason For Living
Next, you want to focus on discovering your reason for living -- the purpose for
your life. This reason is basically what you want to experience, learn or under
stand .. the knowledge that experiencing life and death will give to you.
Combined with knowing your bliss, this gives you a very good idea of what your l
ife is all about ... and brings clarity to the everyday choices and major life d
ecisions that await you.
Step Three: Define Your Extraordinary Life
Next, you want to focus on discovering and defining the life you would love to l
ive ... your grown up version of the childhood dreams you had of what you would
be and do when you grew up. But, instead of being built on fantasy, this extraor
dinary life is one you really would be thrilled to actually live. Basically, it
is you living your bliss in the real world.
Step Four: Define Your Life's Work
Once you have defined the life you want to live, it is time to define your life'
s work that pays for that life and allows you to live it 24/7/365 instead of jus
t on weekends and holidays. Knowing how to turn your passion and personal bliss
into a paycheck (and a handsome one at that!) is a secret to a happy life ... an
d helps you in the real world make great decisions about where to go to school,
what to study, the kind of training or degree you need to be successful, and the
profession you want to pursue.
Step Five: Answer Life's Four Questions
The four questions help you dig deeper into the mystery of who you are and what
you are doing here. The answers and insights you get about who you really are ca
n illuminate your life and help you make sense of the life you are living.
1. Who AM I?
2. Where Am I Coming From?
3. Why AM I Here?
4. Where AM I Going To?
Step Six: Review Your Life Using The Insights You've Gained
The first five steps help you know more about yourself - what makes you unique a
nd what makes you tick. Now is the time to use these answers and insights to exa
mine your life up to now and understand the events and choices of your life. Oft
en, it takes time to provide perspective on a life ... but what that time really
turns out to be is life experience that is turned into knowledge about the worl
d, yourself and others ... so you can start to make sense of your life. Applying
that knowledge to examine your life and understand it brings clarity, peace and
serenity.
Step Seven: Look Forward Using The Insights You've Gained
You can also use the insights and ideas you have developed to look forward and u
nderstand where your current life choices are taking you. Knowing yourself -- wh
o you are, why you are here, what your bliss is, and the life you want to have -
- is a tool you can use to help you succeed at the life you dream of living.
"You Are The Expert On Knowing Yourself"
You are the only one who can truly define yourself and become an expert on you.
You are the only one who can understand from the inside who you are, what your l
ife has been like and what it could become. Everyone else, regardless of what th
ey say, is really guessing at who you really are -- even if they are good at gue
ssing and right on the money!
No one else will have the in-sights you do, because they are standing on the out
side, watching from a few feet away ... and it is easy to miss big stuff if they
are not able to experience along with you what takes your breath away ... what
stirs your blood ... what makes you wake up laughing in the middle of the night
... what makes you groan and roll over to avoid getting up and facing the day. S
o if you want to know more about thyself ... go find a mirror. Staring back will
be the one person who is qualified to do the work. This is one job you cannot d
elegate, sub out or shanghai someone else into doing for you.
So, I hope my words and straight forward guide helps you to start examining your
life and knowing yourself better.
"AS IT IS ABOVE SO SHALL IT BE BELOW"
SARAVA !!!!!
Good Luck on your Spiritual Journey of American Quimbanda and how to "Know Thyse
lf!!"