Entidades espirituais de trabalho
Caboclos, pretos-velhos, crianças, exus e outras entidades atuam em diferentes linhas.
O que é: A Umbanda trabalha com entidades espirituais que se manifestam em linhas distintas, como caboclos, pretos-velhos, crianças, boiadeiros, marinheiros, exus e pombagiras, entre outras.
Como a religião entende: Essas entidades orientam, limpam, aconselham, sustentam trabalhos rituais e expressam pedagogias espirituais específicas.
Base e contexto: A classificação das linhas é parte constitutiva da vida de terreiro e da linguagem ritual.
Debates e variações: A organização das linhas, sua teologia e o status de determinadas entidades variam bastante entre correntes.
Supportive
Oral Tradition of the Caboclos
Caboclos are prominent lines of strength, healing, and guidance.
Reference: Oral tradition and songs linked to the caboclos.
Content: The caboclos appear as entities of firmness, the forest, courage, healing, and spiritual direction.
Use in debate: It is a central source for entities and the Umbanda gira.
Oral Tradition of the Exus and Pombagiras
Lines of protection, the crossroads, practical truth, and spiritual confrontation.
Reference: Oral tradition, sung points, and terreiro teachings about exus and pombagiras.
Content: These entities work in fields of protection, the opening of paths, cleansing, and the confrontation of spiritual demands, in a key that does not reduce them to absolute evil.
Use in debate: It is a decisive source for understanding lines that are often misunderstood from the outside.
Oral Tradition of the Pretos-Velhos
Narratives and songs about entities of wisdom, patience, and moral healing.
Reference: Oral tradition and sung points associated with the pretos-velhos.
Content: These entities are associated with counsel, humility, listening, healing, and the historical memory of suffering and resistance.
Use in debate: It is an important source for working entities and charity.
Neutral
Pew and Brazilian Research on Afro Religions and Flexible Affiliation
Data show plural identities and religious mobility.
Reference: Sociological research on Afro-Brazilian religions, religious mobility, and flexible affiliation in Brazil.
Content: The data suggest that Umbanda coexists with multiple trajectories, double belonging, and fluid identities in some contexts.
Use in debate: It is useful for the plurality of currents and the religion's social insertion.