By 1995 he had received several initiations in both santeria and. The basis of the santeria religion is the nurture of a personal relation with the orishas, and one of the principal forms of devotion is an animal sacrifice. Patakis often tell stories about the orichas, and help define characteristics and traits associated with each one. These are extraordinary personalities or aspects of the creator that are different expressions of a power that permeates the. The handbook of yoruba religious concepts by baba ifa karade. The basis of the santeria religion is the nurture of a personal. The santeria faith teaches that every individual has a destiny from god, a destiny fulfilled with the aid and energy of the orishas. Jun 03, 2012 in traditional yoruba religion, ifa is deeply intertwined with orisha worship and plays a different role than in lukumi. Eshu, as a divinity, is viewed primarily as the powerful holder of the ashe or creative potency of the.
Many cherish as sacred the bible or a book of the saints. Some of these ceremonies may be considered bizarre or controversial. Unfortunately, this religion attracts a great deal of fanatics and people of the lower classes, many of them with an ax to grind. Santeria is a religion governed by strict rules of behavior, but characterized by wide latitude of interpretation due to the individualistic nature of worship clark, 2007. Santeria is typical of what occurred so often in the coming together of different peoples with differing belief systemsthere was a combining of systems. Her books were largely resposible for the favorable decision made by the supreme court declaring santeria a valid religion, protected by the american constiturion.
Santerias roots are in africa, in the yoruba religions native to. The beliefs and rituals of a growing religion in america by miguel a. One, requests came in for more information about the religion. He describes the ceremonies in stepbystep detail and reveals the deep connections to the odu of the diloggun. A reverence to the ancestors is fundamental to the santeria religion and before every. These are extraordinary personalities or aspects of the creator that are different expressions of a power that permeates the universe and everything within it. The followers of ifa, as a population, were the last group taken in slavery and brought to cuba. Whether you are initiated or flying on your own path, the orishas are important to know and understand. Ashe is generative energy that olodumare has blessed us all with.
This paper is a study of santeria, a religion that developed in cuba from the. Santeria is a synchretistic religion, blending elements of animism, roman catholicism, voodoo, andor traditional african polytheistic religions santeros believe that orishas are supernatural beings that. An anthropologist and leading authority on santeria, the syncretism of the yoruba religion and catholicism, gonzalezwippler has written numerous books on the subject e. Kardecs books were translated from french to other languages, including. As a final note of introduction to this discussion of santeria prayers to the orishas, i offer the following quote, which beautifully encompasses much of what i hope to make clear. The evil form of magic or black magic is known as palo monte or palo. They rely on rituals and animal sacrifices to gain favor and help from their spirits, rather than on the sacrifice of christ and the saving grace of the one true god. Olodumare, olorun and olofi olofin are aspects of the one supreme god in the lucumi pantheon, similar to the holy trinity of the father, son and holy ghost in the christian religion. The book also chronicles the struggle for legal recognition of santeria, shedding light on the extraordinary growth of the faith over the past 50 years. In cuba, as santeria lucumi started to take form, there was a marked absence of babalawos and the ifa sect. However, it distances itself from christian religions in that it worships the saints as deities themselves and holds the belief that those saints can and do descend to earth to assist their followers. Godparents know their reputations will be linked to their godchildren, so care must be taken to choose only those people who are likely to be serious about the religion, respectful to their elders, and morally. Hence large elements of west african, particularly yoruba, religion.
The religion is an informative and insightful examination of an african religion s survival in the new world. The religion covers every aspect of this religion, including its rites and ceremonies. Recently, santeria has experienced a surge in interest among many cultural groups. It is a religion of trance, mystery, posse ssion, blood and sex. Olodumare created the universe, olorun breathed life into it through the vital energy of the sun.
They speak about the orichas lives on earth, their interactions with each other and with humans, their relationship to god usually in the form of olofi, and they explain some fundamental principles of the religion, such as the association of particular elements of the natural. An african religion brought to the americas by slaves, it was disguised within a facade of catholicism. Now you can discover the inner secrets of this religion in santeria. Santeria is a synchretistic religion, blending elements of animism, roman catholicism, voodoo, andor traditional african polytheistic religions santeros believe that orishas are supernatural beings that emanate from olofi, the creator god of humankind and the saints.
The slave trade brought many of these people to the shores of cuba, brazil, haiti, trinidad and puerto rico among others. In this cleansing and blessing ritual, a persons conscious mind is aligned with his ori personal orisha and his destiny through offerings to sacred points on the body, recitation of prayers and the presiding olorishas. Santeria, a syncretistic caribbean religion beliefs and practices. No one could write this book better than migene gonzalezwippler. Bibliography this is an impartial listing of books, with no specific endorsements or recommendations. Ashe power is a component of the life force breathed into each human being by god. If you are searching for a genuine and reliable santeria and palo. Santeria is a religion governed by strict rules of behavior, but characterized by wide latitude of interpretation due to the individualistic nature of worship clark. In the native religion of the yoruba people, orisha spelled ori. Though there is mention of a good and bad heaven, most followers hope for. The understanding of death and dying as seen by different. Santeria is a traditional folk religion, we follow the traditions and teachings of our ancestors and we do not make the rules, the orishas do. The west african area is important because this is where the majority of slaves departed for the new world. Aug 23, 2004 foreword magazine book of the year awards, finalist, religion 2004 choice magazine, outstanding academic book 2005 south florida sunsentinel the author, who grew up in the santeria faith, provides insight into the myths, rituals, worldview, history and cultural influence of the afrocuban religion.
Foreword magazine book of the year awards, finalist, religion 2004 choice magazine, outstanding academic book 2005 south florida sunsentinel the author, who grew up in the santeria faith, provides insight into the myths, rituals, worldview, history and cultural influence of the afrocuban religion. Santeria and spiritual books in english santeria yoruba ifa. The religion is an informative and insightful the resulting religion is known as santeria, a blend of primitive magic and catholicism now practiced by an estimated five million americans. The religion contains over 65 remarkable photographs that will take you right into santeria traditions. Finding a book that appeals to you and answers your questions in a way that makes sense to you is a. The resulting religion is known as santeria, a blend of primitive magic and catholicism now practiced by an estimated five million americans. Finding a book that appeals to you and answers your questions in a way that makes sense to you is a task only you can undertake. Ase or ashe from yoruba a is a west african philosophical concept through which the. Ashe, or ache, divination, deities, sacrifice, ceremony, chants, possession, and healing. Apr 11, 2019 the term santeria translates to english as worship of the saints and suggests that this is a loosely connected offshoot of the catholic religion. As the traditional belief systems of the western world cease to provide a direct emotional involvement with the mysteries of life, more and more people are turning to the throbbing of. Oba ernesto pichardo, church of the lukumi babalu aye if. It arose through a process of syncretism between the traditional yoruba religion of west africa and the roman catholic form of christianity. The term santeria translates to english as worship of the saints and suggests that this is a loosely connected offshoot of the catholic religion.
Jan 02, 2020 the santeria religion is a cult that christians would be wise to avoid. Yoruba religion is the basis for a number of religions in the new world, notably santeria, umbanda. This book moves the deep spirituality of the religion away from ethnography and connects the sacred to religious studies where it is well overdue. The religion is centered on african traditions and has some elements of christianity. Existence, according to yoruba thought, is dependent upon it. Santeria followers believe in none of the fundamental biblical truths of the christian faith. Welcome to nelstar services, we have san lazaro, palo monte,ifa. Santeria has no specific founder santeria has its roots in the slave trade africans from yoruba combination of cultures yoruba traditions. Ochani lele explains the practice and importance of animal sacrifice in santeria. Welcome to orisha ashe, whether you arrived by intent, curiosity or chance, we are pleased to assist you in this step of your spiritual journey.
An introduction to the spiritual source of the beliefs and practices that have so profoundly shaped african american religious traditions. The evil form of magic or black magic is known as palo monte or palo mayombe and is usually cast by another tribe known as the bantus or congos who do not fall under the santeria religion. Handbook of yoruba religious concepts weiser classics series karade, baba on. Mules and men by zora neale hurston, african narratives of orishas, spirits and other deities stories from w. Santeria includes the worship of the orisha literally head guardians, and religious beliefs of the yoruba and. Santeria includes the worship of the orisha literally head guardians, and religious beliefs of the yoruba and bantu people in southern nigeria, senegal and guinea coast. Oba ernesto pichardo, church of the lukumi babalu aye if you have any interest in santeria, or in a story welltold, then you should pick up ochani leles teachings fo the santeria gods. Teachings of the santeria gods book by ochani lele. As the traditional belief systems of the western world cease to provide a direct emotional involvement with the mysteries of life, more and more people are turning to the throbbing of the santeria drums. The suns energy is a manifestation of the ache of olorun. The focus of the yoruba religion has never been salvation of any sort, but focuses more on living a great life right now. List of books and articles about santeria online research.
Santeria is an afrocaribbean religion that developed from the cuban slave trade. There is no central authority in control of the movement, which comprises adherents known as. Ashe is something like an allpervasive spiritual energy. Foreword magazine book of the year awards, finalist, religion 2004 choice magazine, outstanding academic book 2005 south florida sunsentinel the author, who grew up in the. This ceremony is called kobori eleda or ebori in the lucumi language. The yoruba religion comprises the traditional religious and spiritual concepts and practice of. Sep 15, 2009 the santeria faith teaches that every individual has a destiny from god, a destiny fulfilled with the aid and energy of the orishas. With santeria, all of the yoruba deities became indentified with catholic saints. Author of the secrets of afrocuban divination, ochani lele has been immersed in the underground culture of orisha worship since 1989. If you are a botanica be sure to send us by fax your tax i. Santeria has no specific founder santeria has its roots in the slave trade africans from yoruba combination of cultures yoruba traditions combined with catholicism santeria the catholic santos yoruban deities called, orishas referred to as. If you are searching for a genuine and reliable santeria and palo monte mayombe practitioner, you have definitely landed in the right place. Heshe hands its more immediate operations over to intermediate spirits. The santeria religion is a cult that christians would be wise to avoid.
Handbook of yoruba religious concepts weiser classics series. Sep 08, 2002 secrecy was once vital to the religion s survival. By 1995 he had received several initiations in both santeria and the congo faith palo mayombe and in 2000 he made ocha and was crowned a santeria priest. Godparents know their reputations will be linked to their godchildren, so care must be taken to choose only those people who are likely to be serious about the religion, respectful to their elders, and morally upright in their behavior. Santeria became then a mixture of yoruba religion with many of the traditions of the catholic church. The whole concept of magic under santeria falls under the category of sympathetic magic and there is no black magic in santeria.
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