A FORÇA DAS FOLHAS SAGRADAS: SABERES E USOS DAS ERVAS EM UM TERREIRO DE CANDOMBLÉ EM BAÍA FORMOSA/RN

This study addresses the knowledge and uses of sacred leaves in Candomblé terreiros located in BaíaFormosa, Rio Grande do Norte, highlighting the importance of these natural elements in Afro-Brazilian spirituality, rituals, and cultural resistance. The main objective was to investigate how leaves are used symbolically, therapeutically, and ritually in these religious spaces. The specific objectives included describing the foundations of Candomblé and its relationship with nature, analyzing leaves as spiritual elements, and identifying the species most used in local terreiros. The research adopted a qualitative, ethnographic approach, using participant observation and semi-structured interviews conducted between February and May 2024, with leaders and practitioners of the religion. The data were organized into thematic categories and analyzed based on authors who study Afro-Brazilian religiosity and traditional knowledge. The results revealed that the leaves are understood as living entities, carriers of axé, used in various rituals such as baths, fumigations and consecrations, and that knowledge about their use is transmitted orally with rigor and respect. It is concluded that such knowledge represents an intangible cultural heritage of great value, uniting spirituality, popular health, sacred ecology and identity resistance in the face of religious intolerance and the invisibility of Afro-descendant traditions.