Papa Legba
Written by Monticue
Papa Legba is a mighty Loa (god) from the New Orleans and Haitian Vodou Traditions. He is seen as an elderly black man with a cane, wearing a straw hat and either smoking a pipe or
sprinkling water upon the ground. He is sometimes accompanied by a black dog or a rooster. His colors are black and red and his number is 3.
Papa Legba is a mighty Loa (god) from the New Orleans and Haitian Vodou Traditions. He is seen as an elderly black man with a cane, wearing a straw hat and either smoking a pipe or
sprinkling water upon the ground. He is sometimes accompanied by a black dog or a rooster. His colors are black and red and his number is 3.
Symbol is Papa Legba's Veve
His day of the week is Monday and He is associated with St. Lazarus and St. Peter. Papa Legba governs over choice and the paths that we all walk. He presents us with opportunities and also tests our progress with challenges as we travel through earth life. This responsibility has given him the title of being the ultimate trickster god.
His Charge
Papa Legba challenges us to step out of ourselves and to examine the habits and beliefs that we identify with. The choice is to either examine our lives, at the cross roads, on critical terms or continue to fail the tests that Papa Legba sends to us over and over again. To Papa Legba, choice is of the utmost importance, for it is choice that displays the maturity of the heart and mind. Papa Legba is one of the very oldest Loa and has been around since the beginning of time. He has seen everything which is why he is the 'Master Story Teller' and the keeper of man’s history. He is like the Kemetic/Egyptian record keeping God Tehuti in this light for he has an unimaginable amount of data stored in his memory. He is the griot with the tales of heroes and the origins of all things. He can speak these stories to anyone on the planet for He is King of all linguists and therefore knows all languages.
Papa Legba's Aspects
He is an honored Orisha often called Elegba in the Ifa and Santeria traditions. But Elegba is a much younger version of Papa Legba who is depicted with hair braided into a phallic style, and an erect penis symbolizing his insatiable nature (In Benin he is often depicted with horns on his head). Young Elegba is always moving, experimenting and causing all kinds of mischief, because trickster gods are the best teachers.
Many are confused by Elegba who is known to cause chaos, and yet becomes the primary force who aids man in organizing the chaos and restore peace. The mischief that Elegba causes is nothing compared to another version of Him known as Eshu (or Exu) who is only fit for the wild.
As gatekeeper, Papa Legba opens and closes all ceremonies. Communication with the other Gods can’t even occur until He is consulted, because Papa Legba is the Hoodoo Man who holds the keys to the doors between the physical and spiritual realms. Papa Legba is the knowledgeable Sorcerer with keys to understanding the secrets of astral travel, banishing and dealing effectively with beings of the unseen. Papa Legba is found at any crossroads. This is where two roads meet and also a place where the physical realm and spiritual realm meet. He directs the traffic flow at this place. He is the Alchemist taking what is left at his feet and transmuting it into something useful. You can come to him at the crossroads and leave sorrow, ritual remains, left over spiritual bath water, a haunted object or anything. He will send it where it needs to go. There are also tales of people going to the crossroads to receive gifts and talents such as dance ability, more luck in gambling and better skill on guitar.
As gatekeeper, Papa Legba opens and closes all ceremonies. Communication with the other Gods can’t even occur until He is consulted, because Papa Legba is the Hoodoo Man who holds the keys to the doors between the physical and spiritual realms. Papa Legba is the knowledgeable Sorcerer with keys to understanding the secrets of astral travel, banishing and dealing effectively with beings of the unseen. Papa Legba is found at any crossroads. This is where two roads meet and also a place where the physical realm and spiritual realm meet. He directs the traffic flow at this place. He is the Alchemist taking what is left at his feet and transmuting it into something useful. You can come to him at the crossroads and leave sorrow, ritual remains, left over spiritual bath water, a haunted object or anything. He will send it where it needs to go. There are also tales of people going to the crossroads to receive gifts and talents such as dance ability, more luck in gambling and better skill on guitar.
Tommy Johnson
Quote from Singer Tommy Johnson
“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 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
Papa's Favorites
Offerings to Papa Legba include candy, rum, tobacco, bananas, black coffee, grilled chicken or palm oil. Many people who work with Papa Legba place an image of him behind their front doors to clear negative energy and to attract opportunity. A popular prayer to Papa Legba is “Odu Legba, Papa Legba, Open the Door, Your Children are waiting. Papa Legba, Open the door, your children awaits!”
Papa Legba's Altar
For Our Offering Today We Give Spirits to Spirit.