Defuma Com As Ervas da Jurema

The song 'Defuma Com As Ervas da Jurema' is deeply rooted in the spiritual practices of Umbanda, a syncretic Afro-Brazilian religion that blends African traditions with Roman Catholicism, Spiritism, and Indigenous influences. The lyrics of the song are a chant used during the ritual of defumação, which is a cleansing ceremony involving the burning of sacred herbs to purify a space or individuals from negative energies and to attract positive influences.

The herbs mentioned in the song, such as Jurema, arruda (rue), guiné (petiveria), bejoim (benzoin), alecrim (rosemary), and alfazema (lavender), are all traditionally used in these rituals for their supposed spiritual properties. The act of defumação is a call for protection and blessing, invoking the presence of Oxalá, a major orixá (deity) in the Umbanda and Candomblé religions, often associated with Jesus Christ in syncretism. The reference to Oxalá signifies a request for divine intervention to drive away evil and misfortune.

The final lines of the song express a desire for any negative presence to be cast away into the sea, which is a common element in Afro-Brazilian religions, symbolizing the cleansing and renewing power of water. The sea is often associated with the orixá Yemanjá, the mother of all orixás and the queen of the ocean. This song, therefore, is not just a set of lyrics but a spiritual incantation, invoking the natural elements and deities for protection, purification, and blessings.