3 rituals for St Michael the Archangel’s Lent

St Michael the Archangel’s Lent is a 40-day period devoted to prayer, reflection and other expressions of faith. Traditionally, it begins on 15 August and continues until 29 September, when the Catholic Church celebrates the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

Religious tradition traces this devotion back to St Francis of Assisi in the 13th century, as he held St Michael the Archangel in particular reverence. Over the years, the observance spread among the faithful and has recently reached unprecedented levels in Brazil, bringing together growing numbers of people for prayer and the strengthening of their spirituality.

St Michael the Archangel is regarded as a powerful defender against evil and a symbol of spiritual protection. This role is also reflected in one of his best-known prayers, in which the faithful ask the archangel to defend them in battle and protect them from the forces of evil. For this reason, devotion to St Michael is closely linked to seeking support, strength and security in the face of adversity.

Below, Isabel Fogaça, tarot reader at Yabá Ritualística, shares 3 simple rituals that can be carried out at home during St Michael the Archangel’s Lent.

1. The white candle of intention

The first ritual involves lighting a white candle for St Michael the Archangel throughout the 40 days, always with a clear intention of protection, whether personal, family-related or professional. The candle should be placed in a safe part of the home, away from draughts and flammable materials. Lighting it each day is what builds the ritual’s strength.

“The candle acts as a focal point for intention. It is not the object that protects; it is consistency. When someone lights it every day with the same request, they create a ritual of connection with that energy,” the specialist explains.

2. Indigo bath

An indigo bath is particularly recommended for this period. Indigo carries the blue shade associated with the vibration of St Michael the Archangel, the same colour depicted in images of the archangel and in his cloak. Preparation is straightforward: dissolve a small amount of indigo in water and, after an ordinary shower, apply the liquid from the neck down, with the intention of surrounding the body with protective energy.

“Blue is the frequency of St Michael the Archangel. When someone takes this bath, they are not washing their body; they are putting on protection. It is a symbolic gesture, and symbols have power,” says Isabel Fogaça.

3. Cleansing the home with rue

The third ritual focuses on the surroundings. Cleansing with rue is done by lighting a sprig of dried herb and taking its smoke through every room, paying particular attention to doorways and the corners of the home, which are places where energy tends to accumulate.

Ideally, doors and windows should remain open during the process, giving dense energies somewhere to leave. “We care for the body and forget the place where we live. The home also accumulates energy. Cleansing breaks up that burden and renews the environment for the cycle that is opening,” says the tarot reader.

Rituals that go beyond religion

According to Isabel Fogaça, all three rituals can be performed by anyone, regardless of their religion. “St Michael the Archangel is one of the strongest protective energies there is. It does not matter whether someone is a practising Catholic or not: the intention of protection is universal,” she explains.

The specialist also points out that the devotion begins in August, a month that popular imagination has labelled the “month of misfortune”. In her view, that coincidence is highly meaningful. “The same month that has a reputation for misfortune is the month when all of Brazil prays for protection. August does not have to be the month of misfortune. It can be the month of protection, of cleansing, of bringing to an end what needs to end. St Michael’s energy is there for that,” she concludes.

Isabel Fogaça

Tarot has been part of the tarot reader’s story since childhood. Surrounded by strong, powerful women, she watched cards being laid out and also saw her aunts gathering herbs for the body’s and soul’s aches. In 2019, she decided to take flight, leave the corporate world and help women connect with nature and spirituality. She runs an online tarot business and owns Yabá Ritualística.

By Vitor Hugo Fróes