Sobo is a powerful lwa of the sky, associated with thunder, lightning, rain, strength, protection, and the kind of security that lets a person stand firm when life feels uncertain.
ThunderLightningRainProtectionProsperitySecurity
The Lwa of the Storm
Who Is Sobo?
Sobo is one of the lwa served in Vodou. He is closely associated with the sky, thunder, lightning, and rain. His brother and companion Bade is associated with the wind. Together, their elemental power has long made them natural spirits to call upon when we need strength, protection, stability, and a sense that the basics of life will be there for us.
That connection between the sky and material security is easy to understand through old expressions such as “raining money” and “pennies from heaven.” Security begins with very practical things: shelter, food, work, money to meet our obligations, and the ability to care for ourselves and the people who depend on us.
In New Orleans Voodoo, Sobo has often been represented with imagery of Thor or by a flaming ram. Sobo and Bade have also been represented with St. Cosmas and St. Damian, although those same saints may be used for the Marassa, so different houses and practitioners may choose different images.
Spellmaker's Free Annual Sobo Ritual
The Sobo ritual may be done at any time. In addition, the Spellmaker family traditionally performs a community Sobo ritual every March 17. Petition requests open in February. There is no charge to be included, and no purchase is required.
To ask to be included in the annual ritual, email sobomylwa@spellmaker.com and tell us what kind of financial help or security you are seeking. Good petitions are personal and realistic: finding work, keeping a job, earning a promotion, resolving debt, creating a new source of income, paying bills, building savings, or simply asking Sobo to help show you the best path toward greater security.
We do not promise a particular outcome. Our intention is to join our prayers and ritual work with yours and petition for positive change on behalf of everyone who asks.
Free to JoinNo Purchase RequiredPetitions Open in FebruaryRitual March 17
Power, Faith & Symbolism
Why Call on Sobo?
The Symbolism of Thunder & Lightning
Sobo's storm imagery speaks to force, movement, protection, and change. Lightning can destroy, but it can also clear the way. Rain nourishes. Thunder announces itself. That combination of power and renewal is one reason Sobo is called upon when we want to push through obstacles and establish greater stability.
Couldn't I Just Pray to God?
Of course. In Vodou, Bondye is the Supreme Creator, while the lwa are the spirits with whom we build more immediate relationships. Calling upon Sobo does not require you to abandon another spiritual path. You are welcome to approach this ritual sincerely and respectfully from the spiritual understanding you already hold.
A Song for Sobo
Traditional Spellmaker Sobo Song
“Sobo my lwa, I am assured, oh,
Sobo my lwa, I am assured.
I have money in my hand,
money in my pocket,
money in the bank.
Sobo my lwa, I am assured.”
Two Ways to Work
Use the Ritual Pack or Use What You Have
The directions below are based on the Sobo Wealth and Security Ritual Pack, but you do not need the pack in order to perform the ritual. Use green or white candles if you have them, pure olive oil if you do not have a spiritual money oil, and frankincense, sage, cedar, or another incense that feels appropriate if you do not have the charcoal and frankincense from the kit.
You may also combine this ritual with other money or luck work. A High John the Conqueror root bag, money gris-gris, green figure candle, seven-knob candle, or another Spellmaker money product can be placed on the altar and worked alongside the Sobo ritual.
The purpose is the same whether you use the kit or work from what is available to you: petition Sobo for wealth, stability, security, and practical help for yourself and others.
Before You Begin
Prepare the Altar
01
Gather What You Need
Provide candle holders, a glass of water, paper and pen or pencil, something fireproof for incense or charcoal, and a small food offering. Traditional prosperity foods include spinach, black-eyed peas, cabbage, other green foods, red beans and rice, or chocolate-covered gold coins. One offering is enough.
02
Clean the Space
Clean the surface where you will work. Florida Water is traditional and appropriate here, but plain water or another cleaner is fine. Keep your petition and purpose in mind while you prepare the area.
03
Choose the Colors
An altar cloth is optional. If you use one for this ritual, white, yellow, green, or a combination of those colors works well.
04
Prepare the Vèvè
Copy the Sobo vèvè shown above onto paper while concentrating on drawing in Sobo's help and support. You may use green and yellow markers, pen, or pencil. Place the finished vèvè in the center of the altar and place representative money on or around it.
05
Set the Candles & Offerings
Place one candle on each side of the vèvè. Put the glass of water to the right as you face the altar and the food offering to the left. If you have a Most Powerful Hand holy card, you may place it centered behind the vèvè as a symbol of a strong helping hand and family support.
06
Anoint & Add Incense
If you have Big Daddy Millionaire™ or another money oil, anoint the candles while drawing prosperity toward you. If not, pure olive oil is fine. Use frankincense, sage, cedar, or another suitable incense. If you are using charcoal, place it only on a truly fireproof surface.
Fire safety: Charcoal becomes extremely hot. Use a fireproof metal or heavy heat-safe dish, keep burning candles and incense away from anything flammable, provide ventilation, and never leave fire unattended.
Optional: Decorate the altar with things that represent prosperity and security to you: gold beads, coins, a small treasure chest, photographs, or pictures of things you hope to provide for yourself or your family. A “wealth” symbol can be anything from a paid-off home to a fluffy dog. The point is what security and abundance mean in your actual life.
Working Together
The Cosmic Mind & Group Intention
If you are doing this ritual with the larger Spellmaker community in mind, include your own needs while also holding the Greater Good of everyone else who is participating. You are not expected to forget yourself. The idea is that you are both giving and receiving support through a shared spiritual intention.
You might imagine yourself as a point of white light with many streams of blue light traveling outward and returning to you. The exact visualization does not matter. What matters is the sense that many people may be praying for security at the same time, helping one another through the strength of a communal intention.
The Working
The Sobo Wealth & Security Ritual
Light your candles. Settle yourself and bring your petition clearly to mind.
Ask Papa Legba to open the gate. Say: “Papa Legba, please open the gate and allow Sobo safe passage to assist me. Thank you.” Pause for a few moments.
Invoke Sobo. Say the following three times, or until you feel comfortable that you have said it enough. Do not worry about perfect pronunciation. Do the best you can:
“Pa pouvwa Sobo Kesou, neg ananman Vodou, Neg Laye tengwi, Neg Bade-si kwa la rousi, Nega Rada Freda Daromen.”
Lift the water. Hold your glass of water toward the East, West, North, and South. Say: “Sobo, my lwa, I am assured of the basics of life.” If you are working for the group, you may say “we are assured.” Drink the water and place the glass back on the altar.
Lift the food offering. Hold it toward the East, West, North, and South. Say: “Sobo my lwa, you are assured of the basics of life.” Place the offering back on the altar.
Begin the incense. If using King's Charcoal™, keep it on the heat-safe surface. Light the charcoal and allow it to begin heating and sparking. Once ready, add frankincense tears a few at a time. Use as much or as little incense as is comfortable for you.
Sing Sobo's song. Use the words shown above. If you are working for the group, substitute “we” for “I” as often as you wish. Sing with the feeling of security already beginning to surround you.
Write your petition. Describe what financial security means for you. It may be as simple as “I need financial security,” or it may include practical possibilities: a job, a promotion, debt relief, additional income, stable housing, savings, or the ability to care for people you love. Include names if you are working for specific people.
Give thanks. In your own words, thank Sobo for coming to help and ask him to go forth and work for you and for others who need his assistance.
Close the gate. Ask Papa Legba: “Please close the gate now, Papa. Thank you for your assistance.”
Allow the work to finish safely. Let the candles burn out on their own only if it is safe and attended. Otherwise, extinguish them safely and relight later if desired.
Dispose of or preserve ritual items thoughtfully. The food offering may be taken outside the next day and left near a tree when appropriate. If that is not possible, wrap it in a brown paper bag and dispose of it away from your home. Keep the holy card and representative money together if you wish. Traditionally, the vèvè and written petitions may be burned to release the work, but only do this if you can do so safely. Otherwise, keep or dispose of them in another respectful way.
Clean and reuse ordinary items. Glasses, plates, and candle holders that belong to you may be cleaned and used again.
Refresh the ritual whenever you wish. You may sing Sobo's song, invoke him, and ask for renewed help at any time.
A basic Sobo altar setup. You may make yours simpler or more elaborate.
Sobo my lwa, I am assured.
The ritual does not belong only to March. Use it when you need to renew your sense of strength, security, prosperity, and practical hope.
