ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROMOTION

OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
(PROMETRA)
B.P. 6134 Dakar (Senegal) - Tel. (221) 34.02.15 - 32.28.50
Centre Malango De Fatick

SCIENCE OF THE SPIRITS: FA

DR. ERICK V. A. GBODOSSOU

FA
It is a system of geomancy which deals with 256 spirits of humans allowing for revelations or
clairvoyance by the oracle regarding an individual, a group of individuals or a society. Sixteen
major spirits are represented by symbols.
The 240 minor spirits are the combination of the major symbols among themselves.

Table of the Symbols of the 16 Major Spirits

Symbol 1
DJOGBE = GBE MEDJI

Symbol 2
YEKU-MEDJI

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Symbol 5
LOSSO- MEDJI

Symbol 3
WOLI MEDJI

Symbol 6
WLIN-MEDJI

Symbol 4
DIN MEDJI

Symbol 7
ABLA-MEDJI

Symbol 8
AKLAN-MEDJI

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Symbol 9
GUDA-MEDJI

Symbol 10
SA-MEDJI

Symbol 11
KA-MEDJI

Symbol 12
TRUKPIN-LELU MEDJI

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Symbol 13
TULA- MEDJI

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Symbol 14
LT-MEDJI

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Symbol 15
TCHE-MEDJI

Symbol 16
FU MEDJI

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Symbol of the Spirit of Djogbe

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INCANTATION
A dog is not lost when it follows its masters footprints. The path is clear (open) and admirable
(great). However, there are detours. One does not break a nut with only one stone.

CLAIRVOYANCE
It is a symbol of the path (way). A healthy consultant will find it very easy and will be lucky.
He will be tempted to embrace (undertake) several/many things at a time, which risks to cause
(bring about) dilution. Nobody/no one can build a roof large enough to cover the earth.
If the consultant is a patient, he will die from the disease. No one will be able to help him out.
In general, consultants have a jinn of water. There is a risk of sterility for a female. She will
experience problems in her household.
Offering:

To make sacrifices to the water.

Protection:

To sit on a rock each morning for a few minutes.

Symbol of the Spirit Yeku-Mdji

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INCANTATION
A black wrapper is never left on a night battlefield. A plant does not succumb to nodosities
overlapping its tem. Goods do not run out for being shared (with others).
The mouth is never worn out for speaking. The staff is never used up for use. The river is never
dried up for water supply.
CLAIRVOYANCE
The consultant has a close relationship with the hereafter, the ancestors, the spirits of water. He
will often have strange dreams: Incoherent.
The eye does not see through a black cloth at night. The consultant is a good speaker who would
be successful in politics.
Sacrifice to twins and the sea. Avoid problems/disputes (occurring) in public. The consultant is
rarely punished for his mistakes.

Symbol of the Spirit Woli Medji

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INCANTATION
A powerful man never dies in the circle of powerful men. The pack of hyenas is a circle of
power.
HISTORY/STORY
The hyena each night goes out to steal one sheep. After he eats the sheep, one night the hyena
has a dream. In his dream he sees the owner of the sheep and the owner kills him. Early in the
morning, the hyena is afraid and he goes to see Bokono. Bokono, does the FA for the hyena and
says, your business is bad--you must stop stealing--If you dont stop you must die.
The hyena says, If I dont steal, what do I eat? If I dont eat, I will also die. So help me to steal
without dying.
Bokono says to the hyena, bring me kola nuts, chicken for sacrifice. The hyena brings all
things to Bokono and Bokono makes the sacrifice. Today you must go to the place where you
steal. The hyena goes to the place. Next to the place where he steals, the hyena sees a man who
is digging a hole. Hyena asks the man what he is doing. The man replies that he is building a
trap to kill the thief who steals at night.
The hyena now knows the place of the trap and he is able to steal without dying.
VISION/ADVICE
You are not good. You are sure that the person with this sign does bad things. Reassure this
person that no bad things will come to you. This person never goes to prison for his faults. He is
always forgiven.
Sacrifice
Must go walking on a trip
Sacrifice white things (kola, chicken, mild)
Dont eat gumbo (okra)

Symbol of the Spirit Din-Medji

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INCANTATION
If some big pieces of meat are (reported) missing from the plate, who is to be held accountable?
The one who was seen last by the plate. This is the suspect.
CLAIRVOYANCE
The consultant feels stuck. It is as though he were in confinement: Absolutely. Enemies are
closing in on him and runs the risk of catching chronic diseases. A calamity occurs in his family.
There is a huge tree either at the entrance to his house, or in the middle of the property. This is
the tree which will exterminate his family.
SACRIFICE
Needed are a living tortoise, a piece of granite, a jar, and a visit to a Bokon for a rite to bring
him peace. He will have to give blood to Gou-Vodou, concocting Vossa from several thorny
plants.
ADVICE
Your enemies are not far from you. A talisman shall be made from a lion or antelopes part.

Symbol of the Spirt Losso-Medji

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INCANTATION
FA is dining without his lips getting in contact with the food. A bird determined to feed on the
palmtree heart is unafraid of breaking his beak. The layman (caiman) has eaten and denied
doing so. The sparrow has pecked but denied it. One drops excrement of what one has eaten.
CLAIRVOYANCE
The consultant is a courageous, steadfast, and envied leader. He is the target of lust and
jealousy.
ADVICE
No wearing red. No consumption of palm nuts, nor red oil. Light skinned ladies should be
avoided.

Symbol of the Spirit Wlin-Medji

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INCANTATION
The wrath of corn shall manifest itself, more violent than that of the pestle. However, when it is
time to fight with fists, the pestle will overcome corn.

CLAIRVOYANCE
The (male) consultant espoused two women, the first of whom is very jealous. She (tried)
attempted to run his life. There will be no gratefulness for him. His words and gestures will not
be appreciated, rather misinterpreted. He tends to quarrel.
ADVICE
One is to raise fowl but eat none. The consultant shall seek and listen to advice from his father.
Multicolored clothing shall not be worn. It is necessary to consume/eat guinea fowl and fowl of
divers colors, corn and derivatives. Calmness is recommended.

Symbol of the Spirit Abla-Medji

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INCANTATION
A tilted fan does not seek are in vain. The royal chair does not claim a successor to the throne in
vain. After all, does it not hold royalty itself? An open parasol does not venture near the forest.

CLAIRVOYANCE
The consultant has a deceased wealthy grandmother whose fortune has completely disappeared.
With his help, his family will recover the fortune. For some time, the consultant has seen the
fruit of his labor disappear. Part of his salary disappears when he counts his money. He will
have many accurately premonitory dreams.
ADVICE
To be made is an ancestry chair that he will use and venerate. This is a good sign. He will
unveil/unmask plots and embarrass (humiliate) his foes.

Symbol of the Spirit Aklan-Medji

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INCANTATION
Two sharp sticks do not meet. To the contrary, they slide over each other.
CLAIRVOYANCE
The consultant is poor and has many financial problems. This is a person who keeps to himself
(very private) and ............. Hardly does he keep company. He is often exposed to diseases. He
tends to experience marital and sentimental problems. He is anxious, melancholy with low selfesteem. He is a negative subject.
SACRIFICE AND ADVICE
Sacrifice to the ancestors (# meals) and to the twins. For him to become successful, he will have
to raise a dog by which he will often be accompanied, and which will bring him happiness or
(and) riches.

Symbol of the Spirit Guda-Medji

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INCANTATION
If one knew death, mortal death, he would be spared. Death is commonplace and nowhere.

CLAIRVOYANCE
The consultant is unlucky with regard to love. It is a scandal. He would be accused of a crime
he has never committed. He is talkative. He will never get rich as long as he lives under his
fathers roof. Ancestors (His___) keep a seat he is to venerate.
SACRIFICE AND ADVICE
To hold ones tongue (to keep quiet?). One needs to stay out of the family house so as to
emerge. Not to envy anybody, not to consume cassava, yam, okra/gumbo, nor the cashew tree
fruit.

Symbol of the Spirit of Sa-Medji

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INCANTATION
The paralyzed will make the blind happy. The blind will make the paralyzed happy. The frog
kills a goat, but it does not find any machete to cut it up. If you get good food, share it with your
brothers.
CLAIRVOYANCE
The consultant will experience sight problems. He has a close friend. Soon, these two friends
will have a violent dispute (between them) and then find themselves close to each other again.
The consultant is surrounded by a group of good angels, a powerful sign. The consultant is
naturally protected. His foes will tend to drown. He has clearly premonitory dreams.
SACRIFICE AND ADVICE
Red and black are to be voided. Not to stare at ones partners sexual organs during intercourse .
Success comes after efforts. Thighs and legs of animals and crabs are not be consumed.

Symbols of the Spirit Ka-Medji

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INCANTATION
The idiot says: The moon is dead. Dead, how could it appear again in the sky and allow for
reckoning months and years?
I am observing the boat because it has tipped me up (overturned with me in it).
CLAIRVOYANCE
The consultant has the means to succeed by himself. He will be faced with hardship, especially
at the hands of sorcerers. He is obstinate and perseverant. He will own a fortune. The
consultant moves much, he is an impulsive nervous.
SACRIFICE AND ADVICE
Not to go out with a weapon. Avoid to eat or drink from a calabash/gourd. He will have to take
protective baths.

Symbol of the Spirit Trukpini Lelu-Medji

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INCANTATION
In the forest where beasts of ferocious pray live, there one finds antelopes with horns as gigantic
as their legs.
CLAIRVOYANCE
If the consultant is a female, she runs the risk of having premature births. This is a disturbing
topic. He does not risk being punished even for his faults or stupidity.
SACRIFICE AND ADVICE
One needs to keep in company of a dog. All ones problems will be solved. He will suffer from
a stomach ailment. To avoid the worst, he shall fix three gourds of porridge, an offering to
twins. He will have a dispute with his uncle on the mothers side. He shall not eat gumbo, eggs,
nor papaya.

Symbol of the Spirit Tula-Medji

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INCANTATION
Alafia - It is from her mouth that the squirrel brought death upon herself.
CLAIRVOYANCE
A promising future. He is a lover loved by women he also loves. He will easily make a fortune.
His talkative instinct risks to hurt him. It is through his mouth that he will be successful and
through his mouth that he will be destroyed.
SACRIFICE AND ADVICE
Consumption of peanuts, eggs and the meat of a game killed with a gun shall be avoided. He
risks becoming a thief if he consumes a squirrel or a deer. He will have to hold his tongue.

He needs to locate (find) the nest of a sparrow. He is to speak through its opening which he will
close thereafter. He will take this nest to a Bokonon. Neighbors wives are to be avoided. If
this is a female consultant, she will be a widow several times.

Symbol of the Spirit Lt-Medji

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INCANTATION
The boa conceives but does not give birth. The sun and the dew never emulate. Whenever the
sun comes out, the dew hides.
CLAIRVOYANCE
The consultant has an upcoming competition. He, however, will win. This is a sign of both
defiance and triumph. Its the sign of Sakpata-Vodou closely related to the earth. The consultant
will have many fans in arenas, yet many foes in his social environment. The earth could/can say,
NSomon Bo Womon... to death and be spared punishment. The earth, however, works for
death as/and buries deaths corpses.
SACRIFICE AND ADVICE
To honor the stones our ancestors used to use to crush (foods) in the kitchen.
The consultant shall not a termitarium, head of the earth. Avoid being out at night.

Symbol of the Spirit of Tche-Medji

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INCANTATION
Suddenly, a rainstorm is brewing. All of a sudden, the weather clears up. She/he who can help
hurries up. Very soon, the tragedy will be unavoidable.
CLAIRVOYANCE
Let generosity be advised to the consultant. He is stingy and that could hurt him. This has a
relationship with Sakpata-Vodou and the consultant must stay away from scandals. He is an
undecided character. If this is a female consultant, she will have many marriages or husbands
(men).
SACRIFICE AND ADVICE
The offering consists of spilling blood: sacrificing an animal. The consultant will need three
gourdes, one yam, and one stem. The Bokonon will fix him a kit he is to bury at his house.

Symbol of the Spirit Fu-Medji

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INCANTATION
Alone, one hand cannot applaud. Two hands are not needed to scream, Aboboboe: a sound
expressing alarm and anguish, some kind of strange event is taking place.
CLAIRVOYANCE
It is a sign of fecundity. The consultant is expected to have many children and longevity. This
suggests regeneration, endurance and fertility symbolizing the mother and the unpredictable. A
poor consultant can, in no time, become wealthy.
SACRIFICE AND ADVICE
The consultant will need a Legba in his front yard to which libations and offering shall be
made periodically. This is a pledge for his protection in all domains.