Caboclos in Umbanda: who they are, types, offerings and meaning
Caboclos in Umbanda are spiritual entities associated with the power of the forest, nature, healing, strength, and protection. They manifest in terreiros (Umbanda temples) with the spiritual image of indigenous people, warriors, hunters, healers, or shamans, and represent one of the most important lineages of the Umbanda religion.
They are not orixás or deities. In Umbanda, Caboclos are spiritual guides who work under the vibration of different spiritual forces, especially those linked to nature, herbs, paths, plants, and protection. Their words are usually direct, firm, and aimed at strengthening those who seek their help.
His importance within Umbanda is enormous. Umbanda tradition links the public birth of the religion with Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas, an entity that manifested itself through the medium Zélio Fernandino de Moraes in 1908 and announced a religion where marginalized spirits, such as Caboclos and Pretos Velhos, could work for charity.
To understand them correctly, it's important to remember that this article discusses Caboclos within Umbanda. Their spiritual image honors indigenous strength and the wisdom of the forests, but it shouldn't be reduced to a caricature of native peoples or confused with other indigenous or religious traditions in Brazil.
Technical details of the Caboclos in Umbanda
| Date | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Caboclos, Caboclas, Caboclos de pena, Pajés and other phalanxes of the bushes. |
| Main tradition | Umbanda, Brazil. |
| Spiritual archetype | Indigenous, warrior, hunter, healer, shaman, protector of the plants and knowledgeable about herbs. |
| Spiritual field | Healing, herbs, baths, fumigations, protection, strength, opening of paths, cleansing and spiritual strengthening. |
| Associated Orishas | Oxóssi, Ogum, Xangô, Oxum, Iansã, Iemanjá or other orixás, according to the phalanx and the foundation of the house. |
| Form of manifestation | Upright posture, bellowing, whistling, bow and arrow gestures, firm steps, dance, and direct speech. |
| Wave | Okê, Caboclo. |
| Main symbols | Bow, arrow, cocar, feathers, herbs, leaves, bushes, charuto, pemba, riscado points and elements of nature. |
| Common offerings | Fruits, green corn, pumpkin, herbs, wildflowers, green or white candles, charuto, water, aluá or elements indicated by the house. |
What are Caboclos in Umbanda?
Caboclos are spiritual entities that work in Umbanda through the symbolic power of nature's peoples. They appear in the guise of the indigenous person, the warrior, the hunter, the healer, or the shaman, and bring to the terreiro an energy of strength, courage, health, and connection with the plants.
In Brazilian vernacular, the word caboclo can refer to someone of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry. In Umbanda, however, the term has a spiritual meaning. The Caboclo is an entity that takes on a fluidic form, associated with the wisdom of nature, dignity, knowledge of herbs, and ancestral power.
Not all Caboclos were necessarily indigenous in their last incarnation. Many houses explain that some are highly evolved spirits who adopt that spiritual form because it clearly expresses their field of work: healing, protection, strength, freedom, and a deep connection with natural forces.
Their mission is to help through charity. That's why they advise, cleanse, strengthen, prescribe herbal baths, perform cleansing rituals, open paths, and sustain the spiritual strength of many terreiros (temple temples).
The importance of the Caboclos in Umbanda
Caboclos occupy a central place within Umbanda. In many houses, they are considered one of the lines that uphold the spiritual strength of the terreiro, along with Pretos Velhos, Crianças, and other working entities.
Its importance is also linked to the traditional origin of Umbanda. According to the most well-known narrative, it was Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas who announced, in 1908, a new religion where spirits rejected by other spiritist groups could manifest themselves to work for charity.
That founding gesture expresses something essential to Umbanda: the spiritual dignity of marginalized peoples, charity as a foundation, and the possibility of opening paths where others closed them.
Therefore, speaking of Caboclos is not just speaking of another line. It is speaking of one of the symbolic pillars of Umbanda: the strength of the forest, the firm word, the spiritual medicine, and the protection that uplifts the human being when they need courage.
To understand how this line fits within the set of terreiro guides, you can read the guide on Umbanda Entities.
The Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas
Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas is one of the most important entities in the history of Umbanda. According to tradition, he manifested himself through the medium Zélio Fernandino de Moraes in November 1908, during a séance in Rio de Janeiro.
In that session, spirits of indigenous people and old blacks were reportedly rejected for being considered "backward." It was then that this entity announced the creation of a religion where all those spirits could work freely for charity, without distinction of origin, race, class, or social condition.
When asked his name, he reportedly replied that he would be called Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas, because for him there would be no closed paths. The following day, the Tenda Espírita Nossa Senhora da Piedade was founded, considered by many traditions to be the first house of Umbanda.
Beyond the historical debates, this narrative has a very strong symbolic power: Umbanda was born as a religion of openness, inclusion and charity, and it did so through the voice of a Caboclo.
How the Caboclos manifest themselves on tour
The manifestation of a Caboclo is usually strong and unmistakable. The medium may adopt an upright posture, open their chest, raise their arms, emit roars, whistles, or war cries, and perform gestures associated with bows, arrows, killing, hunting, or protection.
Their arrival usually fills the terreiro with a sense of strength. In many houses, the Caboclos dance to the rhythm of the atabaques and the sung puntos, they revolve around the axé of the house and present themselves with a vibrant, direct and confident energy.
In a consultation, his words are usually clear and direct. The Caboclo doesn't tend to embellish his message. He speaks to strengthen, guide, warn, heal, or open a path. His advice can be firm, but it doesn't seek to hurt: it seeks to uplift the person and restore their direction.
His most well-known greeting is “Okê, Caboclo”, pronounced as recognition of his presence, his strength and his spiritual hierarchy within the tour.
How the Caboclos work
Caboclos primarily work with the power of nature. Their spiritual field is related to herbs, leaves, roots, bark, baths, fumigations, healing spells, sacred points, protection, and energy cleansing.
Their work is not limited to "healing" in a physical sense. In Umbanda, healing can be spiritual, emotional, energetic, and moral. A Caboclo can help a person regain their spirits, cut through heavy burdens, strengthen their will, cleanse their spiritual field, or find the courage to face a difficult situation.
- They prescribe herbal baths for cleansing, firmness, or strengthening.
- They perform energy passes to balance and strengthen the person.
- They use fumigations to cleanse environments, spiritual bodies, and mediumistic currents.
- They work with raised dots to sign, order, or protect spiritual works.
- They help to cut demands, heavy loads, or negative influences.
- They offer direct guidance on matters of spiritual health, paths, work, and family.
- They strengthen willpower, courage, and inner strength.
Within a serious Umbanda house, its magic should be understood as work of cleansing, healing, protection, and charity. It is not intended to dominate, harm, or force the will of another person.
The medicine of the plants
One of the Caboclos' great specialties is their spiritual knowledge of plants. Plants represent life, strength, mystery, nourishment, healing, and protection. That's why many entities of this lineage work with herbs, baths, leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, and incense.
Herbal baths can be used for cleansing, strengthening, opening paths, calming, protection, or energy renewal, always according to the orientation of the house. Smudging helps to cleanse stagnant environments and move dense energies.
The charuto also appears in many homes as a ritual tool of the Caboclos. Its smoke can be used symbolically to cleanse, clear, seal rituals, or move energies, according to the terreiro's principles.
It's important to remember that not every herb is suitable for every purpose, and not every bath should be performed without guidance. In Umbanda, the use of plants must respect the foundation of the house, the knowledge of the deity, and the spiritual well-being of the person receiving the ritual.
Types of Caboclos in Umbanda
Within the village of Las Matas, there are different types of Caboclos. Each house may organize these categories differently, but some frequently appear in Umbanda explanations: Caboclos de pena, Caboclos de couro, Pajés, and Caboclas.
| Caboclo type | Common features |
|---|---|
| Caboclos of sorrow | They strongly represent the image of the indigenous warrior, hunter, and expert on the land. They are associated with feathers, coconuts, bows, arrows, herbs, defense, and healing. |
| Caboclos de couro | They are associated with men from the countryside, cowboys, and workers from the sertão. In many houses, they are close to the Boiadeiros lineage, although the Boiadeiros form a lineage with its own identity. |
| Pages | Entities of profound wisdom, healing, plant magic, and reserved spiritual workings. Their manifestation is usually slower, more serious, and more focused. |
| Caboclas | Female entities of the plant lineage. They can work with healing, emotions, protection, gentleness, firmness, and spiritual balance. |
These categories should not be taken as a rigid classification for all terreiros. Umbanda is diverse, and each house recognizes its own phalanxes, names, and ways of working.
Caboclos and Boiadeiros
The Boiadeiros have a close relationship with the Caboclos in many Umbanda houses. Some traditions consider that the Boiadeiros emerged from the countryside of the so-called Caboclos de couro, linked to the countryman, the cowboy, the sertão, cattle, and rural work.
Even so, it's important to distinguish between them. The Caboclo primarily embodies the power of the forest, natural healing, the warrior of the jungle, the hunter, the shaman, and the connection with herbs and plant energies. The Boiadeiro, on the other hand, expresses more the power of the open countryside, the herd, the lasso, the whip, the channeling of dense energies, and heavy cleansing.
Both lines can work with firmness, protection, and liberation, but their spiritual language is not the same. One speaks from the forest; the other, from the backlands and the cattle.
To delve deeper into that topic without mixing it with the Caboclos, you can read Boiadeiros in Umbanda.
Caboclos and orixás in Umbanda
Each Caboclo can work under the influence or vibration of an orixá, according to their name, their phalanx, and the foundation of the terreiro. This does not mean that the Caboclo is an orixá. The Caboclo is a working entity; the orixá is the spiritual force that sustains or governs their field of action.
Many Caboclos are associated with Oxóssi through their connection to the forests, hunting, abundance, food, and knowledge of nature. Others may work under the influence of Ogum, for paths, struggle, and defense; Xangô, for justice and firmness; Oxum, for fresh water and emotional healing; Iansã, for movement and winds; or Iemanjá, for water and maternal protection.
In Umbanda, these associations can vary. The same Caboclo name can be understood differently depending on the house. That's why it's correct to speak of possible vibrations, not absolute rules.
| Associated Orixá | Frequent contact with Caboclos |
|---|---|
| Oxossi | Bushes, hunting, herbs, abundance, food, natural knowledge and cure. |
| Ogum | Paths, defense, fighting, cutting obstacles, strength and opening routes. |
| Xangô | Justice, firmness, stone, balance, command and word of authority. |
| Oxum | Fresh water, emotions, sweetness, emotional healing and harmonization. |
| Iansã | Movement, winds, dynamic force, changes, and spiritual guidance. |
| Iemanjá | Waters, maternal protection, welcoming, emotional depth and cleansing. |
To learn more about this topic, you can read the guide on Orishas in Umbanda.
Caboclos known in Umbanda
The Caboclos are numerous, and each terreiro can recognize its own names, phalanxes, and forms of manifestation. Some names, however, appear frequently in many houses and in the Umbanda imaginary.
| Caboclo or Cabocla | Frequent features |
|---|---|
| Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas | Entity associated with the origin of Umbanda, opening of paths, charity, firmness and spiritual foundation. |
| Caboclo Sete Flechas | Direction, strength, spiritual hunting, protection, command of the phalanx and opening of paths. |
| Cabocla Jurema | Feminine strength of plants, healing, herbs, protection, sweetness and spiritual depth. |
| Caboclo Pena Branca | Peace, spiritual elevation, wisdom of the plants, serenity and spiritual guidance. |
| Caboclo Rompe Mato | Opening paths, cutting obstacles, warrior strength, defense and breaking of demands. |
| Caboclo Tupinambá | Nobility, protection, ancestral strength, firmness and connection with native peoples of the Brazilian coast. |
| Caboclo Coral Cobra | Justice, knowledge, defense, plant magic, and working in different vibrations. |
| Caboclo Arranca Toco | Deep cutting, root cleansing, removal of spiritual evils, and firmness in heavy work. |
| Caboclo Urubatão | High spiritual hierarchy, wisdom, enchanting power, and a reserved presence in some terreiros. |
| Cabocla Iara | Fresh water, rivers, waterfalls, charm, emotional healing and feminine protection. |
| Cabocla Jandira | Feminine strength, nature, sweetness, protection, emotional balance, and spiritual guidance. |
| Cabocla Iracema | Femininity, plants, beauty, protection, charm and symbolic indigenous strength. |
These descriptions are general. Each entity may reveal its own field of work within the house where it manifests, and the same name may have different nuances depending on the terreiro.
Symbols of the Caboclos
The symbols of the Caboclos come from the world of plants, hunting, natural healing, and spiritual protection. Each element expresses a function: opening paths, healing, defending, sealing rituals, or connecting with nature.
| Symbol | Frequent meaning |
|---|---|
| Bow and arrow | Direction, objective, defense, spiritual hunting and obstacle removal. |
| Cockle or feathers | Spiritual identity of the Caboclos of sorrow, connection with nature, hierarchy and ancestral strength. |
| Herbs and leaves | Healing, cleansing, baths, fumigations, protection and medicine of the plants. |
| Cigar | Ritual tool for cleansing, purging and strengthening in many homes. |
| Pemba | Drawing of raised points, spiritual signature, ritual ordering and protection. |
| Kill | Point of strength, living nature, mystery, healing, food and spiritual connection. |
| Whistles and roars | Spiritual calling, force of presence, energetic movement and manifestation of the line. |
| Points sung | Calling, sustaining, identifying and spiritual vibration of the phalanx. |
Offerings to the Caboclos
Offerings to the Caboclos are usually related to nature, plants, fruits, herbs, corn, wildflowers, and simple elements of plant power. However, there is no universal recipe for all Caboclos or for all terreiros.
Each house has its own foundations, and each entity may request specific elements depending on the work. Therefore, offerings should be made with guidance from a leader, an entity, or an experienced terreiro (temple).
| Element | What is usually offered to them | Frequent meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sails | Green, white, two-tone candles or candles in colors indicated by the house. | Light, firmness, healing, protection and connection with the line. |
| Fruits | Fresh fruits, especially tropical fruits or those indicated by the entity. | Vitality, food, abundance, nature and simple offering. |
| Green corn | Cooked corn, ears of corn or preparations indicated by the house. | Sustenance, land, abundance, plant strength and work of bushes. |
| Pumpkin | Pumpkin cooked or prepared according to the recipe. | Food, earth, fertility, firmness and natural energy. |
| Herbs and leaves | Green leaves, plants, samambaias, branches or specific herbs. | Healing, cleansing, protection, plant strength, and spiritual medicine. |
| Field flowers | Simple flowers, natural or those indicated by the entity. | Harmony, beauty of nature, gratitude, and elevation. |
| Cigar | Cigar used in some houses as a ritual tool. | Cleansing, release, firmness, and spiritual presence. |
| Beverages | Water, aluá, dry red wine or other drinks indicated by the terreiro. | Refreshment, strength, offering, firmness, and spiritual attention. |
The strongest associations with Caboclos are found in bushes, forests, natural fields, and green spaces. If an offering is made in nature, it must be done with environmental respect: without leaving trash, plastics, glass, or anything that could harm the environment.
Day, colors and greeting of the Caboclos
The commemorative day for Caboclos in Brazil is usually associated with July 2nd, known as Caboclo Day in many Umbanda traditions. However, Caboclo tours and celebrations can vary depending on each house's calendar.
The most common colors are green and white. Green represents plants, leaves, plant healing, nature, and the power of Oxóssi in many houses. White can represent light, peace, purity, and spiritual elevation. Some entities or groups may use other colors depending on their ruling orixá.
The most well-known greeting is “Okê, Caboclo”. It is pronounced as recognition of the entity's presence, its strength, and its spiritual work within the terreiro.
Caboclos in Umbanda and respect for native peoples
Talking about Caboclos requires care. The Caboclo spiritual lineage uses a sacred image linked to indigenous peoples, plants, herbs, and ancestral knowledge, but that doesn't authorize treating indigenous culture as a disguise, caricature, or decoration.
In Umbanda, the Caboclo is a spiritual entity worthy of respect. Its image expresses strength, dignity, a connection to nature, and the memory of peoples who suffered violence, invasion, and marginalization. Therefore, the correct way to approach this lineage is with reverence, not with mockery or stereotypes.
It's also important to distinguish the Caboclo lineage of Umbanda from indigenous traditions, enchantments, or distinct cults like Jurema, which have their own history, foundations, and practices. The existence of similar names or symbols doesn't mean they all belong to the same religious system.
How to work with the Caboclos
Working with the Caboclos requires respect, firmness, and guidance. Although their energy is close, strong, and protective, rituals should not be improvised, nor should herbs be used without knowledge. Every plant, every bath, and every point of power has a foundation.
Approaching the Caboclos with respect means honoring nature, listening to the guidance of the house, not asking for harm, and not treating their strength as mere magic to obtain whims.
- Approach with respect, firmness, and gratitude.
- Do not treat the line as folklore or indigenous costume.
- Do not use herbs, baths or fumigations without proper guidance.
- Do not promise offerings or actions that will not be fulfilled.
- Do not ask for harm, domination, revenge or manipulation against another person.
- Seek guidance from a terreiro or experienced guide.
- Respect the bushes, rivers, fields and natural spaces.
- Do not leave trash or pollutants in nature.
- Remember that each Caboclo and each house may have different foundations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Caboclos in Umbanda
Are Caboclos orixás?
No. Caboclos are spiritual entities that work within Umbanda. They can work under the vibration of orixás such as Oxóssi, Ogum, Xangô, Oxum, or Iansã, but they are not orixás or deities.
Were the Caboclos real indigenous people?
Some houses believe that many Caboclos were indigenous people in life. Others explain that certain spirits take the form of a Caboclo as a spiritual attire to work with the forces of nature. The answer may vary depending on the terreiro (temple).
What does Okê Caboclo mean?
Okê Caboclo is the traditional greeting to the Caboclos. It is used to acknowledge and greet the presence of these entities when they arrive on Earth or when their spiritual power is invoked.
What is the main job of the Caboclos?
Caboclos primarily work with spiritual healing, herbs, baths, fumigation, protection, strength, energy cleansing, opening paths, and strengthening the spirit.
What is the difference between a Caboclo and a Boiadeiro?
The Caboclo is more closely associated with the forest, the spiritual indigenous person, herbs, healing, and the power of nature. The Boiadeiro is related to the cowboy of the sertão, the open countryside, the cattle drive, and the channeling of dense energies.
Which Caboclos are known in Umbanda?
Some well-known names are Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas, Caboclo Sete Flechas, Cabocla Jurema, Caboclo Pena Branca, Caboclo Rompe Mato, Caboclo Tupinambá, Caboclo Cobra Coral and Cabocla Iara, among many others.
Final summary
The Caboclos in Umbanda They are spiritual working entities associated with plants, nature, herbs, healing, protection, and strength. They are not orixás, but guides who act under the vibration of different spiritual forces depending on the house and the phalanx.
Their manifestation is strong, direct, and vibrant. They arrive with roars, whistles, bow and arrow gestures, firm words, and an energy that strengthens the spirit. Their work includes herbal baths, smudging, healing passes, ritual cleansing, energy clearing, and opening paths.
Umbanda tradition links their importance to the very origin of the religion, especially through the figure of Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas. For this reason, the Caboclos are one of the spiritual pillars of Umbanda.
Understanding them requires respect for the diversity of the terreiros and caution against stereotypes. The Caboclo is not folklore: he is a force of nature, spiritual medicine, ancestral dignity, and a firm word in service to charity.
To delve deeper
Caboclos are part of the vast universe of Umbanda entities. To better understand their place within the terreiro, you can also read:
