I remember as a child growing up in Jamaica being sent home from school early one day because the coffin with the 4 dranco ‘vultures’ was looking for Mr. Brown. The teachers had heard that the coffin which rolled up and down the many streets with these talking birds saying ‘Mr. Brown, Mr. Brown, looking for Mr. Brown’, was heading our way. After the children had been let out we all ran to our different homes hoping that we would never meet up on this travesty, which we never did. There was a man who worked across the street from where I lived, he was a nice man I remember, because he used to give the children treats and he was kind to us….his name was Mr. Brown. As I ran pass him to go into my gate I stopped for a moment and in my innocence yelled ‘Mr. Brown guh hide di dranco dem ah look fi yuh’ he responded ‘ah nuh me dawling’, but I didn’t slow down enough to hear the rest. I hastily ran home to go underneath my bed, to suck my finger which was my comfort at the time, (miss mi finga it bad bad).
Dr. L. W. de Laurence was an American author and publisher on Occult and Spiritual topics. He wrote many books; among them are The Master Key and The great book of Hindu Magic. He had a reputation of being a book pirate, often times publishing books that were written by others under his own name and without ever giving credit to the true authors (plagiarism). For example The Pictorial Key to the Tarot and The Rider-Waite, Tarot Decks were published by de Laurence without giving any credit to either AE Waite or Pamela Coleman-Smith. His reputation for plagiarism unfortunately overshadowed his considerable contributions to occultism. He is credited to date on the development of Jamaican Obeah and many stories were told about him and his magic which drove fear in many a people in several Jamaican communities. De Laurence influenced obeah which involved the use of crystal balls, tarot cards and sympathetic magic. The six and seven books of Moses was considered the bible by the de Laurence practitioners. Many Jamaicans wrote to de Laurence whose catalog company was based in Chicago IL, wanting to learn how to divine, invoke spirits and heal, among other things
I once knew a lady, a Jamaican Obeah woman’ her name was Miss. Claudine, her husband had died and as we do in the Caribbean, he was buried in the backyard. Miss. Claudine was the known Obeah woman in the community and it was said that she was very good. There came a time when Miss. Claudine felt that she was under some spiritual attack by neighboring scientists (Obeah man/woman) so she felt as if she had to protect herself even more than she was already protected. Miss. Claudine, believing that if she exhumed her dead husband’s body, took a piece of his bone, pounded it into powder and mixed it with other things (which I will not divulge) she would have the extra protection of her dead husband. I can tell you for a fact that is not true…gross!, but not true. Miss Claudine gives credit of her occult knowledge to de Laurence as do many others like her in Jamaica.
Stories of de Lauence have been told many a times such as the one that I just spoke of and also of the famous ‘Shirley duppy’ in Rollington Town which left many people abandoning their houses; rocks being thrown at houses with no view of the stone thrower, rain falling only in a particular spot (dat deh secret deh ah Africa), babies cribs caught on fire with no harm to the baby and one that I have never forgotten about a young woman being pregnant for fourteen months who was taken out to see a spiritualist and was given medicine and told to sit over a pail when she got home, which was what she did – she sat as if she wanted to urinate in the pail, while she did so, what came out of her was an egg, scribbled on the egg in blue ink was LEAVE MY MAN NORMAN ALONE!!. The story was that this was done to her by Normans baby’s mother who had gone to an Obeah man who was a student of de Laurence. It has been said that de Laurence only terrorizes those who owes him and this is the way he demands of payment (lol).
De Laurence practiced Hindu occultism and mastered it to some degree, and contrary to most thought he was a white man, he knew how to use the power of the mind. Most of what Jamaicans thought came from de Laurence were just an illusion; things that they saw through fear which IS POSSIBLE , because of the power of the mind. The mind is ever becoming, so to invoke the elemental world is possible indeed. Everything is controlled by the elements, earth, wind, fire etc…the mind creates. Just as how man uses the mind to create the television and keep upgrading its science so was it possible for de Laurence to gain access into the magical realms and create, all of us, every human being have the ability to do this, if we wake up and move away from the entrapment of religion and doctrine, ego, materialism, glamour and desire, which if we are truthful to ourselves, humans will never let go of most of these things and will continue to be asleep and unable to develop to their true spiritual potential. Many of his books teaches how to do just that (read the Master Key a very good read). There is a very great saying that goes ‘There is nothing to fear but fear itself’. De Laurence also practiced Christianity and before he died he was consecrated a Bishop; a true master manipulator and magician he was.
Here is an excerpt from one of his books…….. THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK OF THE HINDU OCCULT CHAMBERS (not sure if this was plagiarized) To understand the mysterious Occult influences of the Celestial Realm upon the Intellectual and deep upon the Terrestrial , and to realize how to develop ourselves so as to be a Master who is capable of attracting to his own soul the supreme influences of these worlds, whereby he may be able to operate and do wonderful things by these Occult Powers —— to read the past and future of man, to know the secret counsels of men, to attract wealth, to overcome secret enemies and animals, to procure the love and favors of those around you, to deflect or expel disease, to prolong the days of your life on the earth plane, to foretell future events, to see clairvoyantly and realize things happening many hundred miles away, and such likes as these. That this lies within the possibilities of the soul of man may seem incredible but you will realize that the above possibilities can be confirmed and verified by common sense and reason. For the Cringing, Skeptical, Material fool and doubter the writer cares nothing/…..(My sentiments exactly, De Laurence!)
With all that is said and done de Laurence is still to be respected because not only was he a greate marketer for his catalog company, he also provided social literature for those seeking to embrace their spirituality. If fear should be put aside then de Laurence’s name should not make you quake. Only understand that he was a genius in his days (in way of marketing his company and getting his name out in the world, commanding far and respect, which was all strategy on his part) and there were others greater than him, Alister Crowley, and even greater than he Eliphas Levi, and one of my favorites Rudolph Steiner, to name a few, not to mention greater than these, because in the nooks and crannies hills , crevices and even on the main land of our sweet Africa, are the Babalawos, Priests and priestesses. Humble as they are, these aforementioned men, cannot hold a candle to them in Africa or even to African Spirituality.
I write the story because of the same fear that his name evoked in all whom I knew while growing up in Jamaica, but there was something in ME Obara Meji, even as a child that made me want to study him, (not to become a obeah woman but to understand why he evoked so much fear, it fascinated me), and as I grew into my spirituality I researched him and found out that there were even greater than him, as mentioned above. I am a Spiritualist/Traditionalist who walks on the right (benevolently) and I believe Dr. L. W. deLaurence did the same but preferred to be known otherwise, which gave rise to his fame. He was a great strategist. If you should ever hear his name mentioned, remove doubt and fear from your mind and remember this post. May Goodness and Mercy be with you Dr. de Laurence where ever you reside now in the realm……lolol…laughing at fear!
Like attracts Like, be always of good and up standing character, never let evil be found once within your thoughts or actions!!..Man may not see your deeds when done in secrecy, but THERE is a great force that knows EVERYTHING, a force so great we know not what to call it, nor can we ever see it, but it lives within us, and all around us, this force some may call God, others may say Allah, Olodumare, Jehovah, Yahweh, Jah, but no matter what it is called and regardless if you believe in it or about it, it EXIST!!!!, It is the all seeing eye, it is the force of reckon and you will never escape the judgment of your deeds because it sees and knows all. Walk on the good path my people, sow good seeds!!!…Obara Meji!!!
When a dying man cries, it is not because of where he is going which he knows nothing about, but because of what he wishes he would have done in the world he is leaving behind…….Yoruba Proverb.
Please sir I need your help please how can I write a letter to sir Please
Maniac, i suh glad fi si yuh, doan stop comment or mi wi draw fi mi bag ah oil an cuchuments whey mi lend Yazzy Obeah man fi bring yuh back! Nunu, doan falla Yazzy yuh hear, leave de high heel alone, afta yuh nuh owe de laurence fi ah force guh wear hells whey yuh cyann manij, walk bay foot yah gal pickney or wear crep or slippaz!1 Yazzy,yuh guh road wid Stella BUBBLAZ???, really Yazzy, lmaoooooo, mi God ah bet how you and Stellabubble whey de place, oonuh galang yah, AFTA OONUH NUHOWE DE LAURENCE, LOLOLOL Domgoa, I… Read more »
Lmao. Yazzy yuh fi gwaan betta enuh… No man! Yuh cyaa mek New year cum ketch yuh soh. Nunu doah falla Yaz yuh yere, cawzen sey yuh mighta juss pitch ovah flat pon yuh face wen yuh tip (oh Lawd mi spleen…. I kaint monij).
Oh my bad, pardon mi mannaz! Happy Boxing Day ALLL my sweeties. You all seem very cheerful and I hope it remains that way.
Hey Yazzy, mi glad yuh enjoy yuhself mumzy! Lol, afta mi nyam up di food last night di ongle ting mi coulda duh a drink likkle ginga tea and turn een fi di night
Lmfao! Nunu yuh fi galang beta! Nyam off di renkin goat and mek di peppa seed fly up hinna yuh nose! A some turble nyamin dat eenuh! As Obara seh di goat guda did piss up hinna di pot to! Mi know yuh did aguh need sinting trang fi get dat deh meal deh affa yuh chess! Buss yuh gas ya Nunu… Afta yuh nuh owe De Laurence! 😀 Nunu yuh nuh have nuh excuse fi nuh rally back fi di heels dem tinite and guh do road! Jus memba fi tip pan yuh toe pint!
Goodnight my sweeties!! Lawd mi did likkle mash up all day bout mi guh falla Stella Bubblez and a do road last night!! I had a blast tho!! It’s been a min since I last graced the nightlife!! I prefer and miss NY nightlife but FL nightlife just had to do lastnight! Hunuh baby girl did let loooose!! ((In a cute up stush up goodaz way of course… I’m always a lady first! Then…… Sshhh LMFAO 😀 )) My grandma often spoke of De Laurence but only when she a seh “afta mi nuh owe De Laurence” To my understanding… Read more »
Nite one and all. Mi post one comment early dis mawning but mi nuh seet. Anyway, like I had said earlier, Happy boxing day and thank you Ty for enlightening us as to the origin of ‘boxing day’
*banned
Thanks for reposting this. Is occult literature still baneed in Jamaica or is it just the practice that is illegal?
time*
Yup…Mi ah work off di lickle food weh mi knam fi di chrismuss lol. Hopefully we get an early day. It sure is Ty, I think this is the first day I ever work on boxing day in my life smh
queenie yuh deh ah work
Mi deh yah ah work pon di boxing day, dreaming of JA! lol
Hey Seaqueen…it ruff fi work on Boxing Day…
lmaoooo, Ty, foot dem big like baby coffin, him asking for a pedicure ooda mek Miss Chin faint when she see dem deh foot deh!!
Can you imagine how miss Chin woulda chat bout him foot inna har language …she would well double glove too…
Flatline……
Hey Toym lol, could Muta handle our topics and discussion, him seem mocking and jeering at times and mi nuh waan fi haffi daab him up pon him program, lolol
Grung….all you haffi do fi daaab him up Obara, a ask him bout him last pedicure…lol
lmao Ty I am cracking up. I am laughing so hard, Ty you know Obara don’t take no check.
I know Obara would put Muta in his place. Ty a pedicure? I am pretty sure Muta has hobbit feet. Bottom of his foot pure leather
Grung ….pure leather…grung…
lmao lol I know
Happy Boxing Day! Obara I love how you always stress to the mind. The mind is a very powerful tool if we let go out certain fears and conditioning that is embedded in us. I know I am trying to break free, slowly but surely. Obara I would love for you to go on the Mutabaruka show. That is discussion I would love to hear. lol Hi, Obara, Ty, Court, Charles, Nunu, Yaz, Kia, Tw, and Cami.
Ty, mi ooden like it needa,!
Nunu yuh fi craaben, food fi nyam, lawks ah can himanij how de mutton renk like de Rammy piss up him self all inna de pot while it ah boil white people ooda sey “Gamey”, dem know how fi pretty up sintings ei si, but sh renk de goat renk, an sumell nice man, all wid de country peppa whey buss in deh, sass crisse!
grunggggggg, Ty at de Jasmine story!, licky licky neva fail, lol!
Obara, to this day, I do not like di jasmine plant…lol
But afta di pickney dem did btifht! How dem fi deh mek di nice nice cassava roas’ dumpin dem an nuh lef one fi Jasmine! Lololol
Nunu you are always stuff during the holiday season. lol I am glad you ate good. lol
He did Ty????…by de way de pickney dem get de ting Ty, and glad so tell!!!….dem sey mi fi hug yuh up tight fi dem< thanks ooooooooooooo!
No prob…so happy they liked…hugs to your whole family….
Lawd Nunu ah some dry yellow afoo Pum pum yam mi eat wid some bomb stew chicken whey me cook yessideh, mi grudge yuh, ah suh mi hubby sey, mi know dem nuff nuff pon Friday’s but, according to him, ah fi dem free day fi roam masah.
I am here so if mi tek long fi ansa ah de bloody net work slow and ah gi trouble
Maybe dats why me paternal grandfather come visit me today….lol..such a sweet man…
Does your grandfather visit you often Ty?
No Toy, it was the first time…
Oh wow! That is sweet…. Good things must be coming your way. You deserve it.
Lawd Obara,mi woulda did want pieca yuh yellow yam fi sap up di nice nice curry mutton gravy mi eat yessiday! Lol the way how di mutton sweet mi, di way how mi nyam it up like bad dawg mi snort pieca di country peppa inna mi nose lololol how dat happen mi nuh certain, mi almos’ bawl lololololol when mi face ketch fiah!!!! It did mek mi feel craben but mi neva cyaa!
What an awesome experience you teacher had Nunu, I love thing like those, last night as me and hubby slept I had a clean sharing spoon that i had forgotten in a plate left on my dresser in our room, so inna middle night I heard “Biling giling!!! mi jump up and tun on de light, nuh de spoon, fling quiet to hell from off de dresser to de next side ah de room!!…Mi wake mi hubby and show him, him sey, no wonder today if Friday and is day for dead people to roam free, they just want us… Read more »
I am good and slightly overstuffed Obara, suh Friday a duppy roaming day? Good to know, yuh neva tell di duppy howdy! Is suh when my mother’s grandmother died she said the night when she went to bed, and she had a glass of drinking water beside her, on tnits particular night she also had an empty glass beside the other one with water. In the night she was awakened by the sound of water and when she woke up and looked beside her the water was going from one glass to the next. She said she was so frightened… Read more »
I heard so many stories…of the old greats…one day will have to shell them out…
Me too Ty, lol, my grandpa said that he was so glad when cars came to Jamaica lol, because him never have to run so much anymore because di duppy dem fraid a di lights and the noise lololol. He was always runnung from something or the other back in the day!
Most of the powerful people in ja are dead and gone with their knowledge….trust me, deLawerence woulda fraid a dem…dem humble and were in tune with nature and the universe….
My grandfather always say, street light and electricity are the greatest inventions EVER….because many creatures he saw as a child will never be seen again…
Fear takes on a life of its own, I remember hearing about D.Laurence as a child too, just based on the stories I’ve heard I thought he was the evilest ‘open secret’ in Jamaica because when something bad happened you’d hear fearful whispers about D.Laurence. “Yes mi seh an dem fin’ di chiney man baddi wid di head missn!” then the other person would say, “yes cause mi hear seh dem haffi bury di head unda di alta dem got suh di devil powa wuk, a suh di D.Lawrance ting guh mumz” After that yuh ketch yuh fraid cause as… Read more »
Lol…
Big up di deLawerence worker dem..
Fear is a wonderful marketing tool..
Why u think Jcans can run so ….lol… mek I tell you, one night we in the country…one of my gran aunts always cook outside a night..she used to cook on a wood stove outside…she is an excellent cook….while she cooking, she always knead cassava flour and everybody grab a stick and make dem own dumplin and jook it inna di wood fire…nobody roast dumplin sweet like hers…we have to walk a good 1/2 mile wid bottle torch to get to her house but di way how we licky licky, every night we walk fi nyam di dumplings…while we wait… Read more »
Happy Boxing Day all!! Ty thank you for that bit of information, it is very important to know your history. I have seen boxing day on a lot of calendars (American) but black ppl up here do not celebrate it. Obara, you putting up this brings back memories as it is the first article I ever read here that drew me in because I was on a quest to find out if de Laurence was just a Jamaican myth. My aunt used to always say u know when ppl owe de Laurence because “di stone dem jus ah rain down… Read more »
Good afternoon lovely people! Happy Boxing day! I heard about that story in Jamaica bout the coffin and the dranco dem, lol. I remember when I.was in high school our Bible Studies teacher went to Haiti for a seminar, not sure, he was suppose to be gone for a week. Bright and early about two mornings after he was back at school, suh wi ask sir dem cancel di seminar? Him seh no, but the first night me spen’ a Haiti mi did know seh night numba 2 nah ketch mi deh, lol, Him seh tuh much ‘strange nightly activities’… Read more »
Lol…grung….poor him nuh know seh Haitians fraid a Jcans…
Bookman was a Jcan slave brought to Haiti and later on helped the Haitians to gain independence…their seance and convening is the largest spiritual ” convention” documented to date….
But Teach, how do we overcome far?
Thank you once again for all the good words, and thank you for the jewel you dropped here today about the slaves.
If we remove fear we would learn so much more!
Good evening Teach and all ES crews. Happy boxing day Fam. Power of the mind.
Happy Boxing Day Fam
I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.
Wouldn’t this world be better if we ALL embraced our spirituality and walked on the right path…honored God and that part within us that is from God…
We would truly be Masters as Delawerence stated above…
We would be walking oracles who would be able to manifest our thoughts from our minds quicker to bring forth a better place…
Auto correct…duppy…
Poor miss Claudine….she lucky her husband dippy never haunt her, fi dig up him bones…
Belief kills and belief cures…
Obara, May the universe continue to bless and reward you…you not only embraced your spirituality and oneness with the universal consciousness but you have drawn us all under your fold…gently nudging us towards being the best versions of our selves…while giving us a chance to embrace our own journey in our own time…with a touch of humor, fun, laughter, and self reflection…
Thank you….
Happy Boxing Day to all….for those who do not know, this was the only day slaves were given a day off….for some only a few hours…they were were given each a box with a few scraps from their masters…often left overs from Xmas dinner, scraps of cloths etc… The slaves would spend time with their family and friends, relax, party, give reverence to God and their ancestors…. On this day, they would also give to other slaves less fortunate than them or whose masters gave them nothing… Iba all slaves, from those who did not endured the middle passage, to… Read more »
Some of the greatest, strongest, and most powerful are unknown….never famous, never known by society, but have made the largest contributions…
Before I started my journey, I was angry and sad that the great Africans did not or do not publish spiritual material….
Now being wiser, I see their wisdom and am happy….
I am happy that they have held on to our secrets, held it close to their hearts, careful with whom they share and divulge….
So much was and is stolen from us….
Iba babalawos and iyas patapata…
I have read a book by DeLawerence and am not sure what the hulaboo was about….he truly was a master at marketing…he does mention Hinduism but not particular pundit or sect
I like it…thank you Obara…
The deLawerence books were so fanous in Ja…my grand uncle was said to have the gift of conjuring…side note, we all have it, he just developed it…he however walked on the bad side and was known to do evil things…by the time I was born he was very old and weak and so not able to “work” like he used to…
His eldest daughter, true her fathers fame, decided to take that same path, needless to say, her life has not been fruitful….
Happy boxing day to everyone, I re-posted the one dung ah bottom but I needed to add something and if I trashed it, them it would be removed entirely from the site, so I redid it and re-posted, so ah dah one yah ah run de cut!