Espiritismo: Puerto Rican Mediumship & Magic

also known as Espiritismo del Jibaro (country person) because it was most
popular among the rural population. It was called Espiritismo Folklorico, or
Folkloric Spiritism, by Kardecist practitioners, and eventually became
known as Popular Espiritismo, since most practitioners on the island
followed its precepts.
A HOME FOR EVERYONE
Throughout Puerto Rico's history, the island has been a home to refugees
from various backgrounds, all of whom have brought with them their own
native religions and spiritualities. Because of its own adaptive origins, Mesa
Blanca Espiritismo has been able to accept and absorb these different
traditions.
Haitians settlers were living in Puerto Rico as early as the mid-1890s,
and there are even a few accounts of them moving to the island prior to that.
In fact, several famous espiritistas are said to have been of Haitian origin
and some elements of Haitian Vodou became incorporated into Puerto
Rican Espiritismo. Likewise, records indicate that Dominicans were living
in Puerto Rico as early as the late 1800s and early 1900s. They brought with
them their own religious practices known as the 21 Divisions, a magical
shamanic tradition with a strong Catholic influence that works with spirits
known as los misterios, deities of various African tribes that were preserved
and continued to be served. Certain aspects of the 21 Divisions were also
incorporated by Mesa Blanca espiritistas.
Perhaps the largest group of immigrants to come to Puerto Rico came
from Cuba. In the early 1950s, while many Puerto Ricans were moving to
the United States, a huge number of Cuban refugees were moving to both
the island of Puerto Rico and the US mainland, where they often lived and
worked in the same communities. And, of course, they all brought their
native spirituality with them.
Unlike in Puerto Rico, however, slavery in Cuba lasted longer and the
percentage of the population with African ancestry was thus higher. As a
result, the various religious traditions of the slaves were preserved to a
greater degree. Two of the most important of these traditions were Santeria
and Palo Mayombe. Santeria, also known as Lucumi, focuses on the deities,
beliefs, and rituals of the Yoruba people of Africa, whose deities are known