La Virgen is fondly known as "Cachita." As a manifestation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she is revered by both Catholics and non-Catholics. She is depicted as a beautiful woman with copper-colored skin and lovely dark hair. Her favorite colors are yellow and white. Her sacred metals are gold and copper, and her number is five. She can be beneficent, generous, and very kind. La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre is the patron saint of Cuba. Her holy day is September 8.
While the candle burns, the person will request help in bringing out generosity and kindness so that a loan will be possible. Often the request may be written on a piece of brown paper and burned in the candle flame at the end of the five days. When the person receives the loan, prayers of gratitude are appropriate. The pennies might be put in a donation box at a church or some other charity. Otherwise, the coins might be saved and used if the person plans to request assistance from Our Lady of Charity of Copper again.
As recorded here, this working for assistance focuses on the Marian apparition of Our Lady of Charity.
However it should be noted that in Santeria, Nuestra Senora de la Caridad del Cobre is syncretized with "Oshun," the orisha (powerful spirit) of sweet/fresh waters, rivers, bays, beauty, attraction, love, pregnancy, maternity, abundance, etc. Yet, Oshun is said to understand hard times. Her symbols include mirrors, jewelry, fans, peacock feathers, honey, amber, gold, copper, brass, oranges, pumpkins, sweets, perfume, cinnamon sticks, water birds, river fishes, white stones from a river bed, and river water. She is said to be the patroness of witches. Oshun's day of the week is Friday (or Thursday or Saturday). Variations of her name are Oxum in Brazil and Ochun in Cuba.
Hence, one could use this same working to request assitance from the orisha, Oshun. If that is the case, whoever is working the spell ought to read up on Oshun and/or contact someone who serves Oshun. Judika Illes in her Encyclopedia of Spirits wrote, "A spirit of incredible generosity, Oshun is very slow to anger. However, once angered she is reputedly the most dangerous of all orishas and extremely difficult to appease. If you make her a promise and do not keep it, expect her to take back whatever she has given." (p.802)
Judika Illes, Encyclopedia of Spirits: the Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods and Goddesses, 2009.
Tayannah Lee McQuillar, Rootwork: Using the Folk Magick of Black America for Love, Money, and Success, 2003.
Our Lady of Charity of Copper Images
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Prayers: Our Lady of Charity
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Prayers: Our Lady of Charity of Copper
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