Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints & Sages: A Guide to Asking for Protection, Wealth, Happiness, and Everything Else!

By Judika Illes

World-class spell collector, fortune teller, psychicpractitioner, spirit worker as well as independent scholar, writer, and teacher,Judika Illes offers acomprehensive encyclopedia of the sacred, helpful mystics, saints, andsages from a large variety of religious traditions who can, whenvenerated, produce miracles for the reader. Illes,author of The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells and The Encyclopedia ofSpirits, surpasses herself in this peerlessly expansive guide for allinterested in folklore, mythology, and history, as well as those looking forguidance about accessing the power of saints.  Illes’sThe Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints, & Sages is the mostcomprehensive, accessible, and effective guide available anywhere.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Oct 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9780062098542

Judika Illes

Judika Illes is an independent scholar, educator, and author of several books of folklore, folkways, and mythology. Judika is a graduate of Rutgers University and has a certification in therapeutic aromatherapy from the Australasian College of Herbal Studies. Her books include Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells, Encyclopedia of Spirits, The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, The Weiser Field Guide to Witches, and The Weiser Field Guide to the Paranormal (published under the name Judith Joyce).

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‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani

Also known as ‘Abd al-Qâder; Abdelkader; Abdelqader al-Jilani; Abdul Qadir Jilani; Abdelkadar Jilali; Abdelkader Ghailani.

PRONOUNCED: ahbd-ahl-kah-deer-ahl-jill-ah-nee.

EPITHETS: Sultan of the Saints; The Supreme Helper; The Rose of Baghdad; Standard Bearer of the Way; The Grey Falcon; The Radiantly Shining Lamp.

CLASSIFICATION: Sufi saint.

Renowned as a miracle worker during his lifetime, Moulay ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (c. 1077–1166) is now widely considered to be among the greatest of all Sufi saints. He is referred to as Sheikh or Moulay, honorifics and terms of respect.

• ‘Abd al-Qadir is his personal name meaning Servant of the All-Powerful.

• Al-Jilani is his surname, indicating his place of birth in the Iranian district of Jilani.

Moulay ‘Abd al-Qadir went to study in Baghdad, then the center of learning in the Islamic world. He initially pursued the sciences, until he experienced a tremendous spiritual awakening. He left Baghdad to spend twenty-five years wandering Iraq’s deserts in spiritual pursuits. He was over fifty when he returned to Baghdad, a city packed with mystic teachers, holy people, and miracle workers.

Legend has it that when Moulay ‘Abd al-Qadir arrived at the city limits, he was greeted by a coalition of teachers bearing a vessel filled with water, indicating that the city was already filled to the brim with spiritual leaders and that there was no room for him. He accepted the vessel and, in the middle of winter, out of season, materialized a perfect rose to place within it, indicating both his exceptional powers and that room would be found for him. The awestruck mystics instantly acclaimed him as a master and welcomed him, naming him the Rose of Baghdad.

People were tremendously moved by Moulay ‘Abd al-Qadir’s teachings; his reputation grew. Eventually, facilities were built that incorporated a home for the holy man and his extensive family, as well as a guesthouse and classrooms for students. He authored several books and lived to a ripe old age.

Moulay ‘Abd al-Qadir is invoked for any type of assistance, especially healing, but is renowned for preventing miscarriage.

Moulay ‘Abd al-Qadir founded the Qadiriyya, the first organized Sufi tariqa. Tariqa is typically translated into English as brotherhood but literally means the way. Although he never traveled to North Africa, he is intensely venerated there by various mystical brotherhoods (tariqas), perhaps in less conventional ways than this conservative man may have envisioned while he was alive. Among them are the Jilala Brotherhood and the Gnawa Brotherhood.

The Jilala Brotherhood, an offshoot of the Qadiriyya, is an order of Dervish musicians renowned for trance dancing. When entranced, they dance over burning coals. The Jilala are also renowned for their ability to provide spiritual and physical healing, especially of seizure disorders. They exorcise malicious spirits and perform rituals of purification. In Paul Bowles’ 1962 short story, The Wind at Meni Midar, some dancing Jilala cause a young soldier to become very nervous.

The Gnawa Brotherhood, another Sufi order, considers Moulay ‘Abd al-Qadir to be the Sultan of Saints. He is also classified among the spirits they call the mlouk. The seven mlouk are a conglomeration of powerful saints and spirits who possess the power to control and banish the potentially dangerous spirits known as djinn. Each mlouk is associated with a specific color, incense, and rhythm. Moulay ‘Abd al-Qadir is the White Mlouk, Master of Djinn. He is the first of the mlouk to be summoned during Gnawa rituals.

RITUAL: According to Gnawa tradition, Moulay ‘Abd al-Qadir is the White Mlouk who liberates djinn from their captivity on the twenty-seventh eve of Ramadan. On this night, the Gnawa Brotherhood honors the saint with festivals, burning black benzoin resin as incense, which is believed to assist in opening the spiritual gates.

COLOR: white.

SACRED SITE: His mausoleum in Baghdad, once his madrassa, remains a place of pilgrimage. His sanctuary has fifty-five doors. Legend has it that every time his name is invoked, each door’s knocker spontaneously knocks to alert the saint that his help is required.

OFFERINGS: Light candles in honor of Moulay ‘Abd al-Qadir. Appropriate promises or repayment for favors granted include donations to charity in the saint’s name, or pilgrimages to his shrine in Baghdad or his festivals in Morocco.

SEE ALSO Moses and Glossary: Djinn.

Abihatsira, Rabbi Makhluf Ben Yosef

Also known as Abuhatzeira; Abihatzira; Abuchatzeira; Abu-Chatzeira; Abihsera.

PRONOUNCED: mahk-loof ben yo-sef ah-beh-ha-tsee-rah. (The kh sound in Makhluf is guttural, similar to the ch sound at the end of the German word ach. However, if you are unable to articulate that sound, then pronounce it as k.)

CLASSIFICATION: Jewish saint, also venerated by Moroccan Muslims, who call him Bayo.

Call this miracle worker Baba Rabbi Makhluf ben Yosef Abihatsira, or just Baba Makhluf. Baba is a term of love and respect, meaning literally Father or Daddy. Rabbi Makhluf ben Yosef is among the most beloved scions of the Abihatsira clan, a family renowned for producing saints. The progenitor of this dynasty of miracle workers, Rabbi Yaakov Abihatsira, was, according to legend, born in Israel but flew to Morocco on a mat, a humble equivalent of a magic carpet. (Hatsira means mat in Moroccan Arabic.) The dates of Baba Makhluf’s birth and death are unavailable.

In life, Rabbi Makhluf was a miracle worker of magical proportions. He demonstrated powers of prophesy and translocation—the ability to magically, inexplicably, instantly change locations. Rabbi Makhluf was able to do so through his knowledge of the Creator’s ineffable name. With this knowledge, he was also able to cause or enable others to travel in this way as well. He could allegedly control weather, and could raise storms and winds at will.

While he was alive, Rabbi Makhluf protected his community, providing miracles of safety, healing, and fertility. After death, he continues to produce miracles. He is renowned for healing, but his specialty is fertility, especially for providing male children. He may be petitioned for fertility or specifically for a son. If he responds to you, he expects the baby to be named in his honor.

Rabbi Makhluf is an active saint and a particularly articulate communicator. He visits devotees in their dreams to dispense advice, respond to petitions, and request that they visit him at his shrines. Baba Makhluf expects promises to be kept and has acquired a reputation for appearing in dreams to order procrastinators to fulfill their vows.

SACRED SITES: Rabbi Makhluf has shrines in Tarkellil, Morocco, and in Kiryat Gat, Israel. Devotees from around the globe visit his shrines year-round, but the crowds come for the hillulah. Visit his shrine at Kiryat Gat on the eve of the new moon to receive his blessings.

FEAST (Hillulah): first day of the Hebrew lunar month Tebet.

SEE ALSO Baba Sali and Glossary: Feast.

Abu Ishaq Al-Kazaruni

PRONOUNCED: ah-boo ee-shahk ahl kah-zah-roo-nee.

CLASSIFICATION: Sufi saint.

The full name of this saint is Abu Ishaq Ibrahim bin Shahriyar al-Kazaruni; however, devotees usually address him as Abu Ishaq, which literally means Father of Isaac. Abu Ishaq (963–1033) founded the Kazaruni order of Sufis, named for his hometown in Iran. The Kazaruni were the first Sufi brotherhood (tariqa) in Iran. Particularly zealous missionaries, the Kazaruni had brethren around the world, including in China, India, and Turkey, as well as in their native Iran. Abu Ishaq is traditionally invoked for safety at sea.

Sea passengers experiencing fear (of pirates, waves, weather, or other dangers) made financial promises to Abu Ishaq, requesting his blessings and assistance. As part of the petition process, they wrote out promissory notes explicitly stating how much money was owed the saint. Once the ship docked, members of the Kazaruni Brotherhood came aboard collecting on those notes. They then used the funds to clothe and feed the needy.

The Kazaruni Brotherhood no longer meets ships, but you can still write Abu Ishaq a note. Once safety is achieved, use the promised amount of money to provide directly for the poor, hungry, and needy. When your promise is fulfilled, place the note under a candle and burn it in honor of Abu Ishaq. Alternatively, present the note to him at his tomb.

SACRED SITE: Abu Ishaq’s mausoleum is in Kazerun, near Shiraz, Iran.

Acacius, Saint

Also known as Acacio; Agathius; Acat; Agario; Agazio; San Cuenca.

CLASSIFICATION: Roman Catholic saint; Eastern Orthodox saint.

According to legend, Saint Acacius (died c. 303) came from Cappadocia, which is now in modern Turkey. He was a Roman centurion who converted to Christianity and was martyred during Diocletian’s persecution of Christians. Various legends of Saint Acacius and his martyrdom exist. According to the most famous, he deserted the Roman army together with 10,000 other soldiers who fled en masse to Mount Ararat in Armenia. Roman authorities pursued them and martyred them all. At their moment of death, God granted these 10,001 martyrs the power to bestow good health and worldly goods on anyone who invoked them.

Saint Acacius is widely venerated. Some of his relics were moved to Cuenca, Spain, and he is sometimes known as San Cuenca. Emperor Constantine built a church in his honor in Constantinople. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and is invoked to cure headaches, including chronic migraines.

FAVORED PEOPLE: soldiers, including those away without leave, as well as anyone suffering from severe headaches; the terminally