Umbanda Entities: What they are, types and main guidelines
The entities of Umbanda are working spirits that manifest in the terreiros (Umbanda temples) through mediums to guide, cleanse, protect, heal, and help people on their spiritual path. They are an essential part of the Umbanda religion because they make direct contact possible between the spiritual plane and those who come seeking advice, relief, or protection.
Unlike the orixás, these entities are not deities or superior forces of nature. In many traditions, they are understood as spirits who once lived on Earth and now work for charity within a spiritual lineage. Therefore, they may appear as Caboclos, Pretos Velhos, Crianças, Exus, Pombagiras, Ciganos, Marinheiros, Boiadeiros, Baianos, Malandros, and other spiritual peoples.
Each entity has its own way of speaking, its own way of manifesting, its own symbols, its own songs, its own areas of influence, and its own relationship with the house where it works. Some guide calmly, others cleanse powerfully, others bring joy, others open paths, and others protect the spiritual entrance of the terreiro.
Understanding the entities of Umbanda helps to understand the heart of this Afro-Brazilian religion: a spirituality where guides approach human beings through popular, historical languages deeply linked to real life.
Technical sheet of the Umbanda entities
| Date | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Umbanda entities, spiritual guides, or spiritual peoples. |
| Type | Working spirits that manifest themselves in the terreiros through mediumship. |
| Principal function | To guide, cleanse, protect, heal, advise, discharge energies and sustain spiritual work. |
| Demonstration site | The terreiro, especially during the Umbanda tours. |
| Means of demonstration | Mediumistic incorporation, trance, sung points, spirit current, and ritual house work. |
| Main lines | Caboclos, Pretos Velhos, Crianças, Exus, Pombagiras, Ciganos, Marinheiros, Boiadeiros, Baianos, Malandros and other lines depending on the house. |
| Spiritual foundation | Charity, guidance, cleansing, protection, spiritual evolution and help to the incarnate. |
What are entities in Umbanda?
In Umbanda, entities are spiritual guides who work within the terreiro (temple) to help people. In many houses, they are described as spirits who have already had an earthly experience and who, after passing on, continue their evolution by serving through charity.
Its strength lies in its closeness. An entity does not present itself as a distant deity, but as a spirit that understands human suffering, work, loss, love, illness, injustice, poverty, joy, family, and the difficult paths of life.
That's why the entities of Umbanda have such human archetypes: the indigenous person of the forest, the enslaved elder, the child, the sailor, the cowboy, the gypsy, the street bohemian, the strong woman, the working-class person. Each one expresses a spiritual and social memory that is transformed into help within the terreiro (temple).
These entities can advise, perform passes, cleanse energies, clear environments, undo demands, protect mediums, guide families, relieve emotional pain, and sustain spiritual work according to the lineage to which they belong.
What do Umbanda entities do?
The entities of Umbanda work to help those incarnate and to maintain the spiritual strength of the terreiro (temple). Their function may vary depending on the lineage, but it is almost always organized around three main areas: guidance, cleansing, and protection.
- They guide people in matters of life, family, love, work, emotional health, and spirituality.
- They perform passes, cleansings, discharges and energy harmonization work.
- They protect the terreiro, the mediums, the spiritual current, and those who seek help.
- They undo demands, heavy burdens, spiritual obsessions, or negative influences, depending on the line of work.
- They transmit teachings through advice, songs, symbols, gestures, and their own ways of expressing themselves.
- They help to regain inner strength, hope, balance, and clarity.
The help of an entity should not be understood as a spectacle or an automatic promise of a solution. In Umbanda, spiritual work is carried out within an ethic of charity, responsibility, respect, and foundation.
Entities and orixás in Umbanda: main difference
One of the most common questions is the difference between entities and orixás. umbandaOrixás are superior spiritual forces, linked to nature, divine principles, and the spiritual organization of the household. Entities, on the other hand, are guides who work closer to the human plane.
A simple way to understand it is this: the orixá radiates a force; the entity works within that force. For example, a Caboclo can work under the vibration of Oxóssi, a Preto Velho can be linked to Obaluaê or Omulú, and a water entity can act under the force of Iemanjá or Oxum, depending on the house's foundation.
This does not mean that all houses organize relationships in the same way. Umbanda is a diverse religion, and each terreiro may have its own way of explaining the governance of its entities.
To expand on this topic without mixing it with the guidelines, you can read the guide on Orishas in Umbanda.
| Appearance | Orishas | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Higher spiritual forces, deities, or powers of nature. | Spiritual guides or working spirits that manifest themselves in the terreiro. |
| Function | They radiate, govern, sustain, and order spiritual lines. | They guide, cleanse, protect, advise, and perform spiritual work. |
| Manifestation | In Umbanda they often act as a vibration or superior force. | They manifest themselves through mediumistic incorporation on tours. |
| Examples | Oxalá, Iemanjá, Ogum, Oxóssi, Xangô, Oxum, Iansã. | Caboclos, Pretos Velhos, Crianças, Exus, Pombagiras, Ciganos, Marinheiros. |
The lines and phalanges of Umbanda
The entities of Umbanda do not work in isolation. They are organized into lines, villages, phalanxes, or spiritual fields according to their affinity, their function, and the vibration they sustain.
A spiritual lineage brings together entities that work with a similar language. For example, the Caboclo lineage expresses the force of nature, firmness, and healing; the lineage of Pretos Velhos It expresses wisdom, humility, and counsel; the line of Exu and Pomba Gira works with paths, defense, limits and unloading.
Within each lineage there can be phalanxes, which are spiritual groups with specific names, specialties, or fields of action. That's why there isn't just one Caboclo, one Exu, or one Pomba Gira. Each lineage is a vast spiritual community.
It's also important to remember that there isn't a single list valid for all terreiros. Some houses speak of seven lines of umbandaOthers recognize more or fewer lines. The important thing is to understand the spiritual function of each community and to respect the foundation of the house where one works.
How the entities manifest themselves on the tour
The entities manifest themselves primarily during the gira, which is one of the central ceremonies of Umbanda. The gira brings together mediums, cambones (spiritual guides), leaders, chants, prayers, atabaques (drums), sung points, and those seeking guidance or spiritual help.
During possession, the medium lends their body and mediumistic field so that the entity can work. This should not be understood as negative possession. In Umbanda, possession is an ordered spiritual act, learned and maintained by the house.
Each entity manifests itself in its own way. Caboclos may arrive upright and firm; Pretos Velhos, calm and seated; Crianças, playing and laughing; Marinheiros, swaying like the sea; Boiadeiros, with the strength of the countryside; Ciganos, with music, color, and movement; Exus and Pombagiras, with firmness, direct speech, and a left-handed presence.
That body language is not empty theater. It is part of the way each line expresses its spiritual strength, its memory, its function, and its way of working.
Caboclos in Umbanda
Caboclos are entities of strength, nature, steadfastness, and healing. In many homes, they manifest as indigenous people, warriors, hunters, men and women of the forest, and those knowledgeable about herbs, paths, rivers, mountains, and natural energies.
Their presence is usually upright, strong, and direct. They can work with herbal baths, fumigations, energy cleansings, firm guidance, and spiritual protection. Their words are usually clear and straightforward, because the Caboclo helps to strengthen and straighten the path.
In many traditions, Caboclos hold great importance within Umbanda. They represent the strength of the earth, natural healing, the connection with the plants, and the spiritual strength needed to sustain the home.
To delve deeper into this topic, you can read the complete guide on Caboclos in Umbanda.
Pretos Velhos in Umbanda
The Pretos Velhos are entities of wisdom, humility, patience, and counsel. They manifest as Black elders, often symbolically linked to the memory of slavery in Brazil, suffering transformed into love, and the capacity to forgive without losing spiritual strength.
Their approach is typically slow, welcoming, and profound. They may sit on benches, speak calmly, smoke pipes in some homes, and offer guidance like spiritual elders. They are highly sought after by people experiencing emotional pain, family conflicts, anxiety, or a need for direction.
The Pretos Velhos teach through simplicity. Their strength lies not in harshness, but in patience, humility, and calming words. In many terreiros, they are considered great advisors and healers of the soul.
To learn more about this topic, you can read the guide on Pretos Velhos in Umbanda.
Children or Erês in Umbanda
The Crianças, also called Erês in many houses, are childlike spiritual entities that work with joy, sweetness, purity, and emotional healing. They manifest with the voice, gestures, and energy of children, asking for sweets, playing, laughing, and transforming the atmosphere of the terreiro.
They are not orixás and should not be confused with the Ibeji or the Jimaguas of Osha-Ifá. In Umbanda, the Crianças are spiritual guides who express the sacred power of childhood, innocence, hope, and inner renewal.
Their work can be very profound. They help to alleviate sadness, harmonize environments, protect children, soothe emotional wounds, and restore lightness to those who have lost their joy.
To understand this line of thought without confusing it with other religious contexts, you can read Children in Umbanda.
Exu in Umbanda
Exu in Umbanda is a working entity linked to paths, boundaries, defense, protection, cleansing, and spiritual movement. In many houses, he is understood as the guardian of the terreiro entrance, protector of the doorkeeper, and operator of the left-hand line.
He is not the devil, nor should he be reduced to an evil force. That association stems from prejudice and historical processes of demonization. Within Umbanda, Exu fulfills a necessary function: guarding, opening, closing, cutting off demands, and protecting the spiritual field of the house.
It is also important not to automatically confuse him with Eshu of Osha/Ifa or Elegguá of Cuban Santería. Here we are talking about Exu within the Brazilian Umbanda context.
To learn more about this difference, you can read Exu in Umbanda.
Pomba Gira in Umbanda
Pomba Gira is a female entity of the left-hand line, associated with paths, words, desire, self-esteem, protection, relationships, and emotional justice. In many houses, she works alongside Exus in the areas of defense, cleansing, opening paths, and providing direct guidance.
She is not an orixá nor a goddess. Pomba Gira is a spiritual entity or family of female entities, with well-known manifestations such as Maria Padilha, Maria Mulambo, Pomba Gira Cigana, Pomba Gira das Almas, and others.
Her strength is often associated with women who reclaim their voice, dignity, presence, and personal power. That's why many people seek her out in matters of love, harmful relationships, self-esteem, protection, and emotional clarity.
To learn more about this line, you can read the complete guide on pomba tour, in addition to the articles on Maria Padilha y Maria Mulambo.
Thugs in Umbanda
Malandros are figures associated with the streets, cunning, protecting the marginalized, bohemian life, and the ability to solve practical problems. Their most famous figure is Zé Pelintra, often depicted in a white suit, red tie, and hat.
The word “malandro” should not be understood only as a criminal or swindler. In a spiritual context, the Malandro represents someone who knows the streets, knows how to navigate difficult situations, and protects those who live on the margins.
They are consulted about problems with work, money, justice, vices, everyday conflicts, protection, and obstacles. Their help is usually direct, practical, and full of spiritual wit.
Sailors in Umbanda
The Marinheiros, also called Marujada or Povo do Mar, are entities linked to the sea, water, navigation, and emotional cleansing. They manifest as sailors, fishermen, captains, navigators, or people connected to the water.
Their most well-known work involves symbolically lowering to the bottom of the sea whatever causes pain, sadness, blockages, or affliction. For this reason, they are highly sought after for emotional release, relief from suffering, relationship problems, and situations where a person needs to let go of burdens.
His swaying body should not be mistaken for drunkenness. It represents the ebb and flow of the waves and the ship's spiritual memory. His joy is part of the healing, but his work is profound.
To expand on this topic, you can read Sailors in Umbanda.
Gypsies in Umbanda
The Gypsies, also called Povo Cigano, are entities associated with paths, freedom, prosperity, love, intuition, music, color, and divination. In many houses, they are related to the Line of the East, although they can also appear in contexts linked to Quimbanda as Gypsy Exus or Gypsy Pombagiras.
Their energy is usually joyful, expansive, and full of movement. They can work with cards, Gypsy baralho, spiritual readings, flowers, coins, perfumes, dance, prosperity, and guidance on important decisions.
The Romani lineage should be treated with respect, avoiding caricatures or stereotypes about the Romani people. Within Umbanda, the Romani people express freedom, path, intuition, and the transformation of energies.
To delve deeper into this topic, you can read Gypsies in Umbanda.
Baianos in Umbanda
The Baianos are entities linked to the popular strength of Bahia, simple faith, work, joy, resilience, and the ability to face difficulties with firmness. They manifest themselves through colloquial speech, popular sayings, approachability, and a very human energy.
In many homes, they are sought out for everyday matters: work, sustenance, conflicts, spiritual strength, protection, clear paths, and practical problems. Their guidance is usually direct, cheerful, and without excessive solemnity.
The Baianos represent the wisdom of the people, unwavering faith, and the ability to persevere even in the face of adversity. They are close, strong, and much-loved entities within many terreiros (traditional temples).
Boiadeiros in Umbanda
The Boiadeiros are entities associated with the cowboy of the sertão, the farmhand, the herd of oxen, the lasso, the whip, the roping bull, and the strength of rural labor. Their main focus is spiritual cleansing, exorcism, protection, and the channeling of dense energies.
Just as the cowboy leads the cattle, the Boiadeiro spiritually leads that which is scattered: heavy loads, demands, disturbing spirits, blocked paths, or aimless situations.
In many houses they are associated with Caboclos, Oxóssi, Ogum, Xangô or Iansã, depending on the tradition. Their word is usually frank, rustic and firm, like that of the countryman.
To learn more about this line, you can read Boiadeiros in Umbanda.
Other spiritual entities and peoples
In addition to the more well-known lineages, Umbanda can recognize other spiritual peoples depending on the house, region, and foundation of the terreiro (temple). These may include Baianos, Mineiros, Jangadeiros, Pescadores, Orientales, Médicos espirituals, Cangaceiros, Exus Mirins, and other specific lineages.
This shows the great diversity of Umbanda. Not all houses work with the same entities or give them the same importance. Some lineages are central in certain terreiros and almost nonexistent in others.
Therefore, when discussing Umbanda entities, it's best to avoid closed lists. The religion is organized from the lived experience of the terreiros, not from a single catalog valid for everyone.
The entities on the left: Exu and Pomba Gira
Within Umbanda, the so-called spiritual left is often associated with Exu, Pomba Gira, and other entities of paths, defense, boundaries, cleansing, and working with dense energies. The word "left" does not signify evil or moral darkness. It signifies a form of spiritual work focused on cutting, protecting, cleansing, opening paths, and confronting heavier forces.
Exu and Pomba Gira are among the most misunderstood entities from outside Umbanda. They are often unfairly associated with evil, witchcraft, or the devil, when within the terreiro they fulfill functions of guardianship, protection, opening paths, and spiritual defense.
Understanding the left side is fundamental to understanding the structure of Umbanda. Not all spiritual work is done with gentleness or advice; sometimes boundaries, discipline, firmness, and protection are necessary. This is the area where many houses recognize the power of Exu and Pomba Gira.
Are the entities of Umbanda good or bad?
The entities that work within a reputable Umbanda house operate under an ethic of charity, assistance, and spiritual evolution. Their role is not to harm, dominate, or damage others, but to guide, cleanse, protect, and help those who seek refuge.
This does not mean that all spiritual forces are equal. Umbanda also recognizes the existence of disturbing spirits, obsessive spirits, or kiumbas, which are not working entities of the terreiro. Often, these entities work precisely to remove, guide, or neutralize such influences.
That's why it's important not to confuse an Umbanda entity with just any spirit that manifests. The entity works within a specific tradition, based on a foundation, with ritual order, and within a spiritual house that supports its work.
How to approach the entities
Approaching the entities of Umbanda requires respect, simplicity, and a willingness to listen. It is not about demanding favors, testing powers, or using spirituality to manipulate others. The entities work with charity, but also with law, responsibility, and guidance.
Anyone visiting a terreiro should do so with humility, respecting the house rules, the songs, the times, the instructions of the leaders, and the way in which each entity manifests itself.
- Enter the terreiro with respect and without mockery.
- Do not treat the incorporation as a spectacle.
- Do not interrupt the work or touch the entities without permission.
- Do not ask for harm, domination, revenge or manipulation against another person.
- Listen to the advice carefully and responsibly.
- Do not promise offerings or actions that will not be fulfilled.
- Respect the rules of each spiritual house.
- Do not mix traditions without understanding their differences.
Frequently Asked Questions about Umbanda Entities
What are the entities of Umbanda?
They are spiritual guides or working spirits that manifest in terreiros (religious temples) to guide, cleanse, protect, heal, and help people. They may appear as Caboclos, Pretos Velhos, Crianças, Exus, Pombagiras, Ciganos, Marinheiros, Boiadeiros, and other lineages.
Are the entities of Umbanda orixás?
No. The entities are not orixás. Orixás are superior spiritual forces or nature deities; the entities are guides who work under the vibration or radiation of those forces, according to the foundation of each house.
Do entities possess the medium?
In Umbanda, incorporation is not understood as negative possession. It is a mediumistic work in which the medium, prepared within the house, lends their body and spiritual field so that the entity can communicate and work.
What are the most important entities in Umbanda?
Among the best known are Caboclos, Pretos Velhos, Crianças, Exus, Pombagiras, Ciganos, Marinheiros, Boiadeiros, Baianos, and Malandros. Each house may also recognize other spiritual lineages and peoples.
What is the difference between a line and a phalanx?
A line brings together entities that share a general vibration or field of work. A phalanx is a more specific group within that line, with its own names, functions, or characteristics.
Can I ask for help from an entity without being an Umbanda practitioner?
Many Umbanda houses welcome people of different beliefs as long as they arrive respectfully. Spiritual care is understood as charity, but each terreiro has its own rules and ways of working.
Final summary
The entities of Umbanda are spiritual guides who work in the terreiros (temple temples) to guide, cleanse, protect, heal, and help human beings. They are not orixás or deities, but working spirits who act within spiritual lines, phalanxes, and communities.
Among the best-known entities are Caboclos, Pretos Velhos, Crianças, Exus, Pombagiras, Malandros, Marinheiros, Ciganos, Baianos, and Boiadeiros. Each has its own language, symbols, forms of manifestation, and area of expertise.
The richness of these entities reflects Brazil's own spiritual and popular history: indigenous people, Africans, children, sailors, cowboys, gypsies, bohemians, and workers turned into guides who continue to help from the spiritual plane.
Understanding them is one of the best gateways to Umbanda. They express a religion of charity. mediumshipMemory, popular strength and love for one's neighbor, where the sacred approaches human beings with voice, gesture, song and advice.
To delve deeper
The entities of Umbanda form a vast universe of guides, peoples, and spiritual lineages. To learn more about each one, you can read:
