Papa Legba is the Guardian of the Crossroads, a master linguist, trickster, warrior, and personal messenger of destiny. He has the power to remove obstacles and he provides opportunities. All ceremonies begin and end with Papa Legba, and there can be no communication with any of the other loas without consulting him first.

Papa Legba is the Guardian of the Crossroads, a master linguist, trickster, warrior, and the personal messenger of destiny. He has the power to remove obstacles and provide opportunities. All ceremonies begin and end with Papa Legba, and there can be no communication with any of the other Loas without consulting him first. Papa Legba is honored as a Voodoo doll, perfect for a home altar or for putting behind your front door where he will keep the path clear from obstacles.

Papa Legba is known by several names. In Surinam in Brazil he is known as Exu, in Trinidad, in Cuba he is known as Elegua, and in Haiti and New Orleans he is known as Papa Legba. Papa Legba is the master linguist, the trickster , warrior, and the personal messenger of destiny. He has the power to remove obstacles and he provides opportunities. All ceremonies begin and end with Papa Legba, and there can be no communication with any of the other loas without consulting him first. His gift for linguistics enables him to translate the requests of humans into the languages of the spirits and loas.

Papa Legba's colors are red in black (as worshipped in New Orleans), and some of his favorite things that can be used as offerings include, candy, cigars, rum, and tobacco. He absolutely loves palm oil. His number is three and his day of the week is Monday. He is often depicted as an old man with a crooked cane, dressed in brown pants, and accompanied by a rooster.

His food should always be roasted or grilled. He likes plantains, yams, and red and white speckled roosters, or a male red and white goat. Since Adjesi isn't served alone she often eats with Legba so some people will often kill a red and white hen along with Legba's sacrifices so they can simultaneously feed his wife -- Adjesi. Along with these foods he is also given fresh fruits, hard candies, roasted peanuts and roasted corn. Because the crossroads are sacred to Legba many people will cook for him then put all his foods in a djacout (a straw bag) and place the straw bag, along with a bottle of rum, in the crossroads.

Papa Legba is famous for granting fame and fortune through petitioning him with the crossroads ritual.

What about that legend where a person can sell their soul to the devil in exchange for fame and fortune? The infamous crossroads legend is one that ignites such curiosity. The legend of the crossroads is referenced in many popular songs of the Delta Blues tradition (circa 1900 to 1941). These songs referenced voodoo or its derivative Hoodoo, and the crossroads, explicitly. Robert Johnson sang of "hot foot powder sprinkled all round my door" and Muddy Water(s) referenced "the gypsy woman", "seventh son", and the "mojo hand". Although Voodoo is often associated with Satanism, Satan is purely an Abrahamic belief and has not been incorporated in Voodoo tradition. When Mississippi Delta folksongs mix references to Voodoo and to Satan, what is being expressed is social pain such as racism, which is couched in Christian terms and blamed on the devil. Those who practice Voodoo do not worship or invoke the blessings of a devil.

The following quote is commonly misrepresented as being made by Robert Johnson. In truth, it was Tommy Johnson who gave an account of how one strikes a deal with Legba in return for guitar playing magick.

"If you want to learn how to make songs yourself, you take your guitar and your go to where the road crosses that way, where a crossroads is. Get there be sure to get there just a little ' fore 12 that night so you know you'll be there. You have your guitar and be playing a piece there by yourself. A big black man will walk up there and take your guitar and he'll tune it. And then he'll play a piece and hand it back to you. That's the way I learned to play anything I want."

Tommy Johnson

If this is the case, then who are they encountering at the crossroads? Why, Papa Legba of course!
 

Papa Legba with black face

Papa Legba with black face

Papa Legba with brown face

Papa Legba is the Guardian of the Crossroads, a master linguist, trickster, warrior, and the personal messenger of destiny. He has the power to remove obstacles and provide opportunities. All ceremonies begin and end with Papa Legba, and there can be no communication with any of the other Loas without consulting him first. Papa Legba is honored as a Voodoo doll, perfect for a home altar or for putting behind your front door where he will keep the path clear from obstacles.

Papa Legba is famous for granting fame and fortune through petitioning him with the crossroads ritual.

$75.00

$24.95

Papa Legba is the Voodoo Loa of the Crossroads and Gatekeeper to the Spirit World. Use this oil to clear obstacles from your life and make room for new opportunities. Voodoo Mama's Papa Legba Spiritual Oil is custom blended the old fashioned way with the finest herbs and essential oils using Voodoo Mama's signature Hoodoo formulary. Each bottle contains pieces of herbs and roots sacred to Papa Legba to supercharge the oil. This spiritual oil blend is 100% pure and  additive free. Quantities may be adjusted at checkout.

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