Hair and the connection to Spirit

If you weren't aware of how your hair is a connection to the spirit realm, I'm about to get help you become aware. In the native tradition, your hair is sacred. In Mexican household, some or most, when you braid your hair you are to think of positive things; because you are braiding it in or "infusing" . Hair has always had a cultural significance. Plats, cornrows or braids was a way during slavery to hide in plane sight maps and foods; such as rice.

Growing up my aunt was really the only person to do my hair. She trimmed my ends every full moon. Back then I didn't give it a thought to even question why she only trimmed my ends during that time. I do remember that when she stopped doing my hair and other people started putting their hands in my head, my hair wouldn't grow past a certain length. People would be scissor happy and keep my hair at shoulder length. I would inform them, "My aunt trimmed my ends every month, so my hair would grow". Now I understand in the salon industry, its unnecessary to trim your ends every month. What I didn't know was that her trimming my ends every full moon was a hoodoo thing. I also always heard growing up and I'm sure some of you have also, "Never let anyone with shorter hair or less then you do your hair". Now if you don't know what that means, long story short, it's because of Mal de Ojo (evil eye, jealousy). Which I have experienced that to be very true.

Hair is a symbol of strength and power in many cultures, on a physical and spiritual level. Your hair shows not only your physical health but also spiritual. Think about it, when people are having health problems it will show with their skin, nails and hair. The nails and hair will become brittle and weak. People will begin to have hair loss, hair will not have shine, so on and so forth. Long hair is seen as a sign of spiritual power because it is believed to act as an antenna for spiritual energy. Story time one of many. A decade ago I started experiencing migraines, I was extremely stressed out at that time. One day I was doing my hair, parting it down the middle. I noticed a red patch, a bald spot right at my crown. During this part of my life I did not subscribe to a religion, I wasn't practicing magic, spirituality, nada. My intuition wasn't kicking in, no vivid dreams. My mind and body was  beyond overwhelmed that is effected my on a spiritual level.

"What about people who are bald?" in some traditions they must shave off their hair. Shaving off your hair is a symbol of sacrifice, you are letting go psychical attachments to the body and experiences. The hair holds energy, very much like the body does. It's not a coincidence that when we chop off our hair we feel free. Clear, joyful, blissful. There has always been the running joke that if a woman dyes or cuts off her hair, she's moved on. That trauma, pain and everything else has been released. Hair is also an expression of identity and cultural heritage. Lots or dreads is a prime example of expressing a spiritual identity. Hair is more than just vanity, it is a connection to our community and ancestors and a way for us to continue on traditions.

On top of everything I just listed, spiritual protection is next. Now this is something that varies based on culture. In some cultures hair is believed provide spiritual protection, some believe to protect from negative energies and spirits. In Orisha tradition you will hear constantly or at least I hear, do not allow people to touch your crown, this includes the hair. This does not only include the hair attached to the top of the head. Being a practitioner I always burn my hair that comes out during detangling, washing and combing. For those who do not know why many will burn the hair afterwards, the answer is quite simple, so no one can do witchcraft on you. Growing up my mother would say, "Burn your hair so that way the birds can't make a nest out of it, giving you a headache". While that is true, the doing witchcraft part is as well. You will mostly hair women from the islands talk about not leaving your hair behind at the salons. Now that is another story for another day.

For more on this, of course check out the recording attached to this post by clicking on the Sweet Water image or clicking the link below:

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/GWxY4g6Ymzb